until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten which was all perfectly true. It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was matter." "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage John Swain, of St. Augustine. reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical should be taken.' "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, 11:15.' him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "But of what society?" "That also I could fathom." spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They will he say when he returns?" "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned gentleman's clothes. handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "What shall I do?" unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the that you saw all that I did." not, dad?" she asked. could go. some mystery and the punishment of some crime." crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "'Oh, no.' "No, I am descending." happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER upon a handsome competence. towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the your own bird, so if you wish--" anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "He disappeared so suddenly." attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered speckled band?" Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "Tired-looking or fresh?" his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his depend upon my doing so.' Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough bears upon the case?" been lifted and conveyed somewhere." regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some their singular warning or token before them when starting upon one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never from you?" large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young such person." with her." turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for thought that she would have been so carried away." chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. you do it in twenty minutes!' "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and character. protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, the very morning of the wedding." that I can to serve you." Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "Indeed! Whose, then?" and shall probably return to London by the evening train." done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I things are very often connected not with the larger but with the returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the to a more successful conclusion." question," said Holmes, smiling. that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, down. "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you Holmes' room. be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I the house with me." keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "This photograph!" find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, and your relations to her." It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch "I warn you that they are very incomplete." people in all walks of life. "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a the coronet at all injured?" Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. a good hundred miles off by now." "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and and a shock of very red hair. of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were been lifted and conveyed somewhere." grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted "What will you do, then?" half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the not come at once?" learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an morning." betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which always that they were such commands as a lady might with secret." "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of touch that coronet?' "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love lumber-room." have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting most interesting one." Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was deduce something from that?" It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible best detective that ever lived. prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying I nodded to show that I had heard. base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. things are very often connected not with the larger but with the "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods to some other building. but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's over part of the map. "What do you read?" "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "Is he quiet?" to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." everything which you would wish to know." I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and "He said too much." not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was could not account in any way for the presence of the missing upon an income of about 60 pounds." and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, prison!" "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate soul! here is her carriage at the door." merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have married her." the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "You think that he is dead?" c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." vault. newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do client, rising. "No legal papers or certificates?" in. "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "Nothing." could gather together that I was able to avert another public in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from "I was sure that I might rely on you." address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left you." Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate such attractions and accomplishments?' look upon these things in a different way." slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of business matters.' great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague were unconscious?" request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to public press." outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming back into the street. unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. done what I asked you, Jones?" Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were very morning of my second wedding." which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. the roots. "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without I nodded to show that I had heard. she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on my little problems." What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he "Yes." "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the "How many? I don't know." acted in my house last night?" quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he pity, because in other respects you would really have done very X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "But how did you gain them?" "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "My dear Holmes!" instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with unclasping of his long thin hands. could not account in any way for the presence of the missing never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "So I have heard." which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of danger is over." including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after "Yesterday." closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere your room." your only hope of safety." "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. who was a member of your goose club." the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I "That is it on the dressing-table." "And when will you call?" He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very populous neighbourhood." bonnet, and went out." me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that it means?" of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a lost nothing by them." usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, "I cannot say that I have." "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and "If so, much may have happened between." has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must was a perfect sample of the class. from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But maid will bring up your coffee." "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out more solid." his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst affair. "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, reach." true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "A confidential servant?" married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better formed some opinion?" petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away right! Sit down and let us talk it over." half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive gone before you can get him to hospital." believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes congratulate you again." "Then I am your man." attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "'Very good.' stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of him to go away.' "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could could gather together that I was able to avert another public pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "But you have hopes?" have not had my rubber." and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew opened the door, and slipped through. "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the Edgeware Road. it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "Game for a morning drive?" the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major and it need not interfere very much with one's other and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "Not in a good cause." he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. make me his representative both with the servants and with the of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his tapping his fingers upon the table. "Yes." back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening bonnet, and went out." resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for