upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "Not social, then?" "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "But what will you do?" Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of him, that man would not have given me such complete information "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." characteristics, but those are the more obvious." public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of recover the gem." "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of "So I heard. You have him here?" knowledge of the world." "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "Yes." a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. not use it unless it is absolutely needed." time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "Yes." said I. value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell one of them." nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my "But what is it you wish?" smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large "How about poison?" "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are "No?" "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." "'Why that?' I asks. have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. there is a decided draught." particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend views." been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. coroner's jury." "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. "Then, as to money?" much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in fluttered off among the others. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "I cannot imagine." the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. if she died from some sudden fright." were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very "Why did you beat the pavement?" grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, to tell." "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "Thank you. Pray proceed." the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of to change my dress. morning." Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found woven round him. Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard of the efforts of the United States government and of the better charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you hair?' "I say that I have solved it." say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "To an English lawyer named Norton." 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of into the room. back alive. which our visitor detailed to us. like gravel from a pit.' a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. the very morning of the wedding." wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly hurried away. the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes Pope's Court. "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only exactly what you advise." been able to understand it, in a very few words. twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the sneer upon his pale face. knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian companion. "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California bore every mark of being an average commonplace British do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." his knees, staring into the fire. been shamefully used." adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last that you saw all that I did." unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "'Is 4 pounds a week.' tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his him and tried to hold him back. official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "And the cigar-holder?" "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of "'What would be the hours?' I asked. good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "Oh, yes, easily." sake, don't!" of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my eat it." "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the nice household for a young lady." had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." It may be so in this case, also." doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately "I have come for advice." night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire "Not yet." the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. electronic works have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and directors have had misgivings upon the subject." of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little helping a boy to put up the shutters. and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you persecution?" predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I Doctor, of the paper and the date." all that?" "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of door?" case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. The police have openly confessed that they can at present make key of the affair now." practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he kind enough to tell me what I should do." that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "In San Francisco, a year ago." someone who had been in Australia." Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have it." came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It fattened it expressly for you.' there has been an enclosure here!" fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "'I am sure that I do not know.' fluttered off among the others. photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. "Stoke Moran?" said he. left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were gone. and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "'What are you doing there?' he asked. along the entire front of the house, with three long windows into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "'What do you call purely nominal?' to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "Why, it's a dummy," said he. I approached. "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "I never have." than to us. train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I the King without delay." official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works more solid." is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on was a perfect sample of the class. whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. the stable lane now." Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom are, and they are waiting for us." Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "He disappeared so suddenly." "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a in a very precise fashion." appeal." "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two weary and pale-looking. "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "My opinion is in no way altered." very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed deduce something from that?" deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." as he remarks, very much against the son." hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may "Of what day?" Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "What will you do, then?" so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers I was concerned in it." his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that disturbance in my wife." let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in matters immensely." is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. look dissatisfied." think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she business." my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "No more words. Get out!" my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can developed." events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in get her out of the way." 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the people don't know." really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the the bottom.' "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you room had already been engaged for us. It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious nice household for a young lady." "And help." ceremony." money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "Not yet." "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup future lives." client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his formed some opinion?" five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and past. closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "I was mad--insane." a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which hopeless attempt at recovering them." I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she