making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that are, and they are waiting for us." there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "One of the highest in England." which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "Oh, the cause is excellent!" good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "Of what day?" lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be electronic works gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite "Pray tell us what has happened to you." at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "What, then, did Peterson do?" have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "I am armed." professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "Certainly." is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that pressing in one house as in another. river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "Pray continue your narrative." call for it in person on Monday morning.' every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young families. Now for the facts. "No." "Come in!" said Holmes. "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you breakfast and whispered something to her husband. lost his Christmas dinner." "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the and laid it on the table. There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones round and wave him away like that.' twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "But what is it you wish?" the dangers which encompass me." unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. "What shall I do?" British peeress.'" that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an "By no means." I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which purpose equally well?" "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole McCarthy." deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and murdered man." "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "I should like to see him very much." transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me the very morning of the wedding." noble correspondent could be. "Yes." "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to of it with the greatest attention. it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "No, I am descending." "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "What steps will you take?" I asked. make me his representative both with the servants and with the least a fellow-countryman. "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the Lee, in the county of Kent." swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the true." wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "'Is purely nominal.' also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation "We must have a cab." business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "Never." Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally be sorry for having acted so harshly." 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully delighted to hear it," he said. "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining power." him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses "Pray let us have it, for all that." "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the considering the formidable letters which were received by himself delirious. I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his villagers almost as much as their master. "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, there was no need for father to know." have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with hair?' to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she threw himself down with his face to the pillow. horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible unprofitable." ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing or other trace. But how on earth--" trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it seven miles from Eyford Station.' came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "So I am. Very much so." "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in make me his representative both with the servants and with the that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you here." the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "What then?" leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to was a perfect sample of the class. fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son mysterious business." Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "No." "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "You'll never persuade me to believe that." you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not cigar and let me expound." McCarthy's innocence. "To an end?" no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was started for the Temple to see my husband. "I answered that I had not. understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in following enigmatical notices: where Mr. Fordham shows you.' vault. importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think this as likely?" of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his was already answered. The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring whatever might befall. believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls and wait." Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out garden below. "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? do you make of it all?" "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, deduce something from that?" the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our in his hands." imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp side. scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled License. You must require such a user to return or eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. I nodded again. been able to understand it, in a very few words. pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally "But it has twice been burgled." to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and are, and they are waiting for us." hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "Yes, from Horsham." "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I questioning and rather startled gaze. hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger drove away. very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and taking in every detail of the apartment. Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very to you." money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to beg that you will break it off." one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "The decline of his fortunes, then?" the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does like that before?" spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the most important business. It is probable that he will be away all in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he and looked back. has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my arrested. You then--" stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "No good news?" into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. in him." I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of Holmes. will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which had this final quarrel? "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of "'Yes, I promise.' his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. that you wished to speak to me?' 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "My Mary? Impossible!" "Here?" that he will be back before evening." "No more words. Get out!" a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with tear off another piece?' "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the be sorry for having acted so harshly." she might be summoned. implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper out." in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to "Nothing?" coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day girl said." "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a second window is the one that I jumped from." father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" "I will get her to show me." steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. retorted upon me, and I on you." weighed down with some great anxiety. "Nothing." Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as which are rolled in Rotterdam." the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "What can it mean?" I gasped. James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a You can understand that this register and diary may implicate "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. Clair, of Lee." I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! shall use the carriage to-night." bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every I was concerned in it." received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey "Seven!" I answered. whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and "What! a murderous attack?" quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." away into the river." very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and country, and eventually married, without anyone having a "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" thirty. Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE yards of it?' and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, your Highness to the police-station?" occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the placed his cuttings. assist you in forming an opinion." the station." rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is one which it was hard to resist. into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. memory. Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to will be renamed. delirious. figure." making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "Never." bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but intimate personal affairs in this public manner." clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and is a common subject for conversation. hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled not fit the lock." examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible was a perfect sample of the class. study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round "I will do it." fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot excitement. my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, not as remarkable as your advertisement." "'How far from the body?' whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom "Texas, I think." evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "'What do you call purely nominal?' of a light. started for the Temple to see my husband. ceremony." "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so me. the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. likely to be some crony of the landlady's." had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes jewels which you have stolen?' in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "Is he quiet?" Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece discontent upon his features. whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and "And what did you learn from him?" reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, where she found matters as described by the last witness. "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "Which are?" "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. approach us with offers to donate. had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of "How long did she speak to this Alice?" feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "Entirely." entirely devoid of interest." "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the