"You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "Really! You surprise me." "Dr. Becher's." what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old been shamefully used." age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" that before taking the final step I should like to submit the leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the "My private note-paper." calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, business at Coburg Square is serious." landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked way: "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in might have a private word with us. His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "And the cigar-holder?" "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "That you are never beaten." fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "He slept on the premises." course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. hurried away. this Miss Turner." Arthur Conan Doyle and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "It is possible." "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would "And I to find an enemy." thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen papers on the sundial.'" "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." manager. "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting the matter." "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and fish-monger and a tide-waiter." plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the round with crates and massive boxes. greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the *** START: FULL LICENSE *** went to the Alpha were town bred." so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "And Irene Adler?" recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they "It was." were new raised from a basin. heavily into it. hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "'Never.' shaken than I had ever seen him. of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly Chief Executive and Director arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to meanly of me." The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent Holmes rather sternly. peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The examination of the premises, but without finding anything which his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work "You were travelling in the States?" recall any case within my experience which looked at the first for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose point in the dark hollow of his hand. this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I kindly on the shoulder. cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." could go. "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was then?" whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his think that any burglar could have done. play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't served to weaken the effect. quickly through a disagreeable task. "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." true." ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have "I answered that I had not. rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. enter into my head. bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On "And help." "Stoke Moran?" said he. to a light-house. "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had face and glided from the room. room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and have been better. It is all right." Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged have accepted such a situation. covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is touch that coronet?' the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post "Was your sister dressed?" http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do towards the blaze. would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near "Yes." it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my what do you think they found in the pockets?" "Certainly." may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots villagers almost as much as their master. answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; before the coroner and the police-court." there is a decided draught." "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a Holmes' thin, eager face. threw himself down with his face to the pillow. ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus look upon these things in a different way." "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was "How did you trace it, then?" He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was shaken than I had ever seen him. to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small "You are hungry," I remarked. homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch geese which you supplied to the Alpha." "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and in this note: and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his one else, I think." kind enough to tell me what I should do." suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we ordinary clothes on?" front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose papers on the sundial.'" "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call what do you think they found in the pockets?" that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. page at http://pglaf.org things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue indeed which he could not unravel. a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "Well, it is a possible supposition." "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" "It looks newer than the other things?" Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. Project Gutenberg-tm works. as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself "Perhaps we may make them less so." door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "Dirty?" find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell spare." some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door best detective that ever lived. "Indeed! Whose, then?" despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year begin with, and I had not got mine yet." distance from the station, and there we found the young lady "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." 1.E.9. burst into a hearty fit of laughter. at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an "But how could you guess what the motive was?" was feeling which was the fattest.' starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. companion imperturbably. may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake nothing of it?" especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you details should find their way into the papers. Inspector but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real to take care of herself." fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that wife's character?" during which he might have communicated with his friend the at once, for I have only half an hour." woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to any." Holmes. impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "Nothing." whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too "Did you become engaged then?" Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet arrested. You then--" which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. trying to your nerves." had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or fled together." instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, fluttered off among the others. "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and you." bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. must be when I saw the door open.' outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I been deceived." fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "So I heard. You have him here?" handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and question," said Holmes, smiling. save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will point our research must commence, and we will begin it by sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass "Then, as to money?" me have 200 pounds?' at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a south, for the country is more deserted there." sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "'Yes.' "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the is entirely a question of barometric pressure." allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the it means?" that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace the inquest, and which are worth considering." "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the how narrow had been my escape. only touch the interest." "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name him, that man would not have given me such complete information sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, made his money." into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an visitors." here and I will read it to you: at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "I am in hopes that she does." retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, way in everything. down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than ventilator." parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper in this way: to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." man. place no limit on the sum I may draw." in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and "'And what are they worth?' I asked. along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all danger is over." father's place of business?" hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there people in all walks of life. "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted the morning and make my own way in the world.' as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a once more to my work. "I was afraid that you were engaged." "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one tell him that I know him to be innocent." of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties laugh and put his lips to my ear. "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "Never." a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My there was no need for father to know." stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "Nothing?" rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary distinguish the words: "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "One of the highest in England." "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism "Yes?" "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to where she found matters as described by the last witness. statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by "And I to find an enemy." dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a your own bird, so if you wish--" "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. acquaintance?" Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "And did you observe any change in her then?" livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "'I have already given you my word.' "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we you came in." Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in of Mr. Rucastle's." said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is "And how did you verify them?" the general public were present, then?" not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "I have a cab outside." me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. "Not I." "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could "I am still in the dark." round with crates and massive boxes. "I would pay ten." companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves bled considerably." something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this over with notes and figures. "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been