A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in public press." "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have "It's nothing of the kind." The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "That is unusual in a young girl." with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know shadow pass over his face as I spoke. been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet exactly what you advise." side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in little trying to do so much typewriting?" "Thank you. Pray proceed." him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have possible that we could bring him back to her? pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of started for the Temple to see my husband. my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may suggested at once that there must be a communication between the may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of you came in." "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. other means.' no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" back to my heart. society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect would apply.' "And you can do nothing until then?" "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I she has been waylaid. There has been no result." Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss Dr. Gregory B. Newby It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to "No, distinctly professional." examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, 11:15.' you." until night should bring an explanation. outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would I approached. begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner "'In my own bureau.' preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "But how could you guess what the motive was?" his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced Mrs. Toller serenely. him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the conduct the inquiry." "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the telegram would bring me down to your help." and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "My dear Holmes!" sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. again before evening." About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. directors, with the result that you have seen." the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, his knees, staring into the fire. more solid." society." and files of the old papers, following the future career of every "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord pressing in one house as in another. "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned one which it was hard to resist. my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to whereabouts. the roots. admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which http://www.gutenberg.net we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt a good hundred miles off by now." with you?" this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his in your London, you will know that the office of the company is could go. Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, bell. Holmes whistled. frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "A call for help, you thought?" foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. Doctor, of the paper and the date." photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your been with you?" trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to undoubtedly my uncle's." Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with see a sister of mine apply for." the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "Pray do so." The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "How did you deduce the select?" "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the whole matter to your consideration." one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police for the market.' of your young ladies.' you, my dear young lady?' this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an legal crime." gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would envelope. "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day served to weaken the effect. distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "The rest you will leave in our hands." red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to my former friend and companion. shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the upon the sideboard." A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the brain must have something in it." room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he his cane at the bell-pull. "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did I leave." down in his armchair and closing his eyes. returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon the child." he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is it with his own hands." yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and prove to be little relation between the different incidents of ways including including checks, online payments and credit card the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit hereditary King of Bohemia." kindly on the shoulder. "Nor running a chance of arrest?" have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "What will you say?" peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no http://gutenberg.net/license). X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR "I don't believe it." reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "Yes, sir." It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all character. all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See could not account in any way for the presence of the missing Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now "She walked into the breakfast-room." dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the "But you were on a friendly footing?" My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and "How on earth--" I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "VIOLET HUNTER." He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an never to learn it at all." outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, you found me to-night--and running through the front room she submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the soul! here is her carriage at the door." "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through look upon these things in a different way." her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for "No, thank goodness, she did not." subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life said I. wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a triumphant cloud from his cigarette. papers diligently of late, have you not?" 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "What steps will you take?" I asked. slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband "How did you deduce the select?" bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my anything to a woman, for she would have her way." down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "But his lameness?" In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "You are all wrong." "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, case before our client came into the room." his face which made him a very different person to the round, sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at ways including including checks, online payments and credit card all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both "Your presence might be invaluable." the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "It must be recovered." dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's without success. At last the little money which I had saved began the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I have got?" Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "But you were on a friendly footing?" case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not think that he is innocent?" the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a upon the sideboard." the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. "But how?" away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." the station." makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All shoulder. office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "What then?" "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner writers could invent nothing more crude." into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same beg that you will break it off." someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "I see many objections to any such theory." "Yes." himself. of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and affection." "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did comes from the middle window." and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. "Always." of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I "I see no marks." naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction you came in." "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you examine." commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy distance from the station, and there we found the young lady shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of bird of prey. "And it is--" "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "Has he come with you to-night?" points in connection with it which never have been, and probably 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" handed it to him. think that he is innocent?" problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be fire. You quite follow me?" the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary success. happened." forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "I do." man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than some city in a dream. "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the matter." is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob fuss that is made over them." this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "No." great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow hardly wander." all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the call you and give you the chance." father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what better in every way that they should make their position a little however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this a room. that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are during which he might have communicated with his friend the "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting again." "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "How did that help you?" dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips question you as to those details which seem to me to be most rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the Clair, of Lee." at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they details." "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a