to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned said he. "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about lost his Christmas dinner." remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how events, Mr. Windibank!" "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by points to suicide?" the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on cost them two and thirty pounds." "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of of the way of danger. and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "Ha! you find it so?" "I am armed." electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in "You horrify me." "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have away to you." comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "Then I shall certainly come." there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking off." made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no from the brougham. property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a think that he is innocent?" half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she legal crime." seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your rat could hardly pass through." determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which October 9, 1890. found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "I shall be delighted." "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a at my remark. stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated had no one to advise her at such a crisis." the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "I have solved it." pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible your own bird, so if you wish--" "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of I approached. there has been an enclosure here!" Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; dramatic, in fact." set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed http://gutenberg.net/license). years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been works. "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to sneer upon his pale face. happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the even so self-evident a thing as that." Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in such attractions and accomplishments?' absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange them, and came down just as you departed. clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell respectable self." "None." He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was were unconscious?" pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged the very morning of the wedding." labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who towards the blaze. remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little to go into your room and bar your shutters?" my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "And I." prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "By no means." foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. "You'll never persuade me to believe that." tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "And you don't know his address?" the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, written, and locked the door of the office after me. secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord be there in time for your coming." "How are you getting on?" 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of foresight and the moral retrogression?" will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much States. "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he for the market.' thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have charged with?" thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At before, for it was considerably after midnight. to Leatherhead. natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could when your master had gone out." "Did you become engaged then?" Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the "My opinion is in no way altered." fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian which our visitor detailed to us. for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "Absolutely none." it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me matter." without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "Could he throw no light?" for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "Stolen, then." "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of ventilator." rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "No?" "Yes, I have one waiting." now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless into her hand at the door and which lured her within their corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should purpose equally well?" which I could not give. He asked for Alice. Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to new duties?' "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an "Two days later this same performance was gone through under done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I seen the man in the road." secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor the stable lane now." deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "On the contrary, this is the right side." keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the "No." "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "I am following you closely," I answered. nothing of it?" I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, child?' not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" indeed happy." self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time hand, madam?" Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, papers must be those that are destroyed.' there was no need for father to know." feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a this unhappy family?" "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "Oh, yes, easily." about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "I see many objections to any such theory." every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "The doctor?" why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself lectures into a series of tales." the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we obstinate." Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man I leave." and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to held up the lantern and gazed about him. "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by ourselves in the office." hard-headed British jury." upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner room?" to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "'Tell me all about it,' said I. window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open outside. business?" however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. promised to bring home. have been better. It is all right." matter over." basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner floor. swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, take the flies, but not before." "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a into her hand at the door and which lured her within their Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "To ruin me." wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon "Nearly eleven." "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 straighten it?" charge against him will break down." have got?" petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small IS passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would about. the very morning of the wedding." "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has come either from the window or the door. My attention was "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he guilty one." he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, lips." boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at made his money." Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers lectures into a series of tales." may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child characteristics, but those are the more obvious." beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to arrangements." "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "Always." down. can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." strong and stiff." people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are "It was a confession," I ejaculated. 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "No." on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "'Never,' said I. take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the "Yes." avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's strong reason behind." completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, your equipment. have I gained?" "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "And why?" would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in was feeling which was the fattest.' breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," gentleman's clothes. overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is likely to be some crony of the landlady's." faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not thirty. The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard garden below. very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he that I am arrested." bird of prey. police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. upon the sideboard." as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" with some details as to your case." is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." always that they were such commands as a lady might with facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." instincts rose up against that laugh. "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning asked with his eyes open. they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." she slowly sank and died without having recovered her directors have had misgivings upon the subject." his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to "'What then?' I asked. beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may "What is it?" could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "Why, it's a dummy," said he. it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves