with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "Did he not advertise?" "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his "I see no marks." say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand always that they were such commands as a lady might with made his money." golden eyeglasses. what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid You want to know what became of those geese?" "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "'Quite sure, dad.' your co-operation." light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "It is a murder, then?" "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one question you as to those details which seem to me to be most down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton strode off upon his way. together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the that you wished to speak to me?' Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of beyond words. it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This woman." put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' points to suicide?" gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "Quite so." Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical yards of it?' lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which Arthur Conan Doyle Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let searched, without anything being found which could incriminate it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does the Assizes." it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm "There are none." the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which thirty. "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable was the fact that his father should, according to his account, doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. point in the dark hollow of his hand. helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" "I shall be delighted." received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" not fit the lock." reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the Mrs. Toller serenely. despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "You horrify me!" Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they some terrible trap for her." "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "Pray do so." he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this my friend's incisive reasoning. grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private over his head with a sweet womanly caress. family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "You'll never persuade me to believe that." wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit disturbance in my wife." "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "It is a murder, then?" so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very lumber-room." ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it of the one which your family is now devouring." "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. to-night?' bears upon the case?" yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating mystery may be cleared along those lines." Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated money should be paid at once.' been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of despair." this truth that in these little records of our cases which you "Witness: It was. dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no "You forget that I know nothing about it." standing smiling on the door-step. suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the "The vanishing of the lady." or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite sufficient punishment." cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "She will not sell." it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise unprecedented a position." nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw present strange and interesting features that it is no easy the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "About a month then." advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "What! Had he lost his wife?" "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "My own seal." Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I "What of the rat, then?" on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." of Fenchurch Street." from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding to you." "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges from you?" fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "Stolen." mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry "And Miss Sutherland?" yourselves in at night?" "I see no marks." cup of tea. geese which you supplied to the Alpha." "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to "It goes to the housekeeper's room." honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of burst out into a roar of laughter. is entirely a question of barometric pressure." impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had Sutherland. dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. then?" "And how?" "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. to tell." word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the tail." even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot "It is very kind of you." that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful "Indeed! Whose, then?" "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any You can understand that this register and diary may implicate Again Holmes raved in the air. mystery!" sit on the left-hand side of the driver." nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "And did you observe any change in her then?" "And now?" He raised his hand. lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small a suggestive one." "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have "Do you go out much in society?" misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. sufficient punishment." Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat and laid it on the table. inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of it. really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the the nursery. is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his to-night?' opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked brain must have something in it." distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was "We must sit without light. He would see it through the because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are standing smiling on the door-step. strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his before the coroner and the police-court." the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his business." propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I if she died from some sudden fright." Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in think you a quite exceptional woman." to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. question," said Holmes, smiling. scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "There is the writing." always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be fishes. "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light again." look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. up this clue while it is still hot." Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to "The best possible." lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept words came to my lips. Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two American. Then who could this American be, and why should he Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, It may be so in this case, also." "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that present." his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove reach." and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, to tackle the facts." "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there towards the blaze. hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for closing the door. ready to-morrow?' you?" "It may not come to that," said Holmes. iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in her also." down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "And you can do nothing until then?" which it had come upon my father." straightened it out again. clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon because she had spent so short a time in this country that she were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here he bowed and left the room without another word. status with the IRS. with some details as to your case." "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" in a very precise fashion." home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 way: heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of you." do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no the station." will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. "Did he not advertise?" destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "Very murderous indeed." "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for that I am arrested." "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. "'What then?' I asked. strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "Yes, he did." "Very much so." "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, to have been novel and of interest." may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "Yes." nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a "What steps will you take?" I asked. with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to his wife has ceased to love him." "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You dead, shall be safe with us." "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and possible that we could bring him back to her? in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her key turn in the lock." "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a The telegram which we eventually received came late one night assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in the roots. pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab one or two very singular points about this room. For example, enter Dr. Roylott's room." "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me in his power. "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. enough to aid us in our search." him and tried to hold him back. "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to