occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must house for five minutes.' she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two his grey eyes. labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "'Most admirably.' me. pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second them?" Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had to his chemical studies. which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "No." his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears me. You must get home instantly and act." "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain future lives." active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. "Pray do so." "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the "No." companion. passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, "Married! When?" was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying Again Holmes raved in the air. have been better. It is all right." case before our client came into the room." headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right hand, madam?" has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are some terrible trap for her." heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. digesting their breakfasts at home." "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his door?" line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those your co-operation." a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone bell. Holmes whistled. ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "But his left-handedness." surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I one else, I think." weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round way in everything. "Yes, but only for you and me." "Could he throw no light?" "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of society." which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could had no one to advise her at such a crisis." while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just and capable of preserving a secret.' up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose hand, madam?" "Yes, there are nearly always some there." request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." the devil!" with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw "'Oh, no.' became a certainty. "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" acquaintance?" asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "My stepfather's business papers." could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left you want, then?' turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to prisoner's face. and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or I think that I could be of assistance to you." ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "Can I be of assistance?" every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, have got?" License. You must require such a user to return or yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her in darkness. wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "Quite so. She has her freedom." our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "I will not look." John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." "I should be immensely obliged to you." the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "You were travelling in the States?" "'Where to?' "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of The events in question occurred in the early days of my green of the new foliage. had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, "But to whom?" "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "Ah, but I was recommended to you." What do you deduce from it?" "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR correct than the official force." the very morning of the wedding." As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need "It's nothing of the kind." "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "An enemy?" these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am arrested. You then--" fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that bled considerably." fattened it expressly for you.' "To an English lawyer named Norton." hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some delighted to hear it," he said. his forehead." the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "And I say east," said my patient. "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making money should be paid at once.' clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been present strange and interesting features that it is no easy himself to tell his story. there when the Rucastles went away." country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. "Why, it's a dummy," said he. for its centre. "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you Leave Paddington by the 11:15." guilty one." should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her to affect your life." there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and room had already been engaged for us. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem Eyford." attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the one which it was hard to resist. "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "I do." Mrs. Toller serenely. "Nothing." daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." "The doctor?" was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "Here?" "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to Heh?' "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you retorted upon me, and I on you." half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "No." rooms." The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a tassel actually lying upon the pillow. this remarkable episode. trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "That also I could fathom." pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "Yes, he did." One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which during which he might have communicated with his friend the jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after house for five minutes.' "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. for the market.' "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back writers could invent nothing more crude." cigars in their mouths. "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me nonsense.' over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the from the brougham. "That's no good." outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a "'Where could I find him?' "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." on re-entering her father's house?" enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "Only as much as we can deduce." dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" "It is to him that this trophy belongs." the roots. What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, "We have tried and failed." When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this anything to a woman, for she would have her way." once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which should be taken.' probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect the side-table." given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was ill-usage at the hands of fortune. clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. The telegram which we eventually received came late one night but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull writer." glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, late." appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and you do it in twenty minutes!' province." occurred." question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair assist you in forming an opinion." "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the yourselves in at night?" something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, something of him before." another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be "But your client--" "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking which are rolled in Rotterdam." developed." "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "Stolen, then." "He might." "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; within hail.' line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would writer." "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "And what did you see?" rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have derbies." in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "Nothing." and looked back. our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. these bleak autumnal evenings." "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that obstinate." what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "She told me to ask you." gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, "Certainly." "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital this poor creature." "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, the iron safe, which he closed upon it. do." nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "My photograph." she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon think that he is innocent?" "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "You'll never persuade me to believe that." reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black Holmes." seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I to-night?" I asked. list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." to Leatherhead. It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having "Then I am your man." begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you Eyford." "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his "Was she in good spirits?" deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than you, my dear young lady?' 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" noble correspondent could be. and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at girl said." "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited bird of prey. my secret was safe in his possession. after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been "In what way?" asked Holmes. hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to the bottom.' of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. "Can I be of assistance?" have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." unclasping of his long thin hands. shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a I nodded to show that I had heard. "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the could gather together that I was able to avert another public brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. soul! here is her carriage at the door." hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "What have you done?" asked Holmes. in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm