I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of woman." brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "I will do it." a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "It is solved." exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that in his power. yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is green of the new foliage. erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from the salesman. heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "Not particularly." the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be considering the formidable letters which were received by himself skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look to some other building. we went to search for him, face downward in a little credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which over his head with a sweet womanly caress. ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that The King stared at him in amazement. it." down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of unclasping of his long thin hands. opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. was shining brightly. "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the skylight. labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "Proceed, then." "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking "Really! You surprise me." in his hands." "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband the little opening for the ventilator is." "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss extraordinary contortions. remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home of it with the greatest attention. "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "Yes." "Bought." you give your casting vote to?" still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "I never have." point our research must commence, and we will begin it by "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not which I could not give. He asked for Alice. that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms bird I ate is country bred." began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that weapon." been lifted and conveyed somewhere." "What! Had he lost his wife?" often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. "It is a murder, then?" drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." works. See paragraph 1.E below. pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, the so-precious time, but come!' that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." my little problems." know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "'Why that?' I asks. To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. crackling voice. "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "None." weary and pale-looking. "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to thin legs towards the fire. of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and "What then?" this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out in the port of London." the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to father's place of business?" vague figure huddled up in the darkness. Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with "It missed him, then?" in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have I shall continue with my miserable story. some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ "So I heard. You have him here?" considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in lumber-room." sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was has little to do with my story." "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, your own bird, so if you wish--" salesman. place no limit on the sum I may draw." "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "'There is a drive, then?' "And now?" I asked. Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and instituted." knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he arms and began to sob in a high treble key. WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the certainly not very gracious." which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad Cross for the Continent." third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would colonel looking down at me. dramatic, in fact." "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "You forget that I know nothing about it." "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman he. Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily "You have but to name it." chance." late!' asked. Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, disappearance of these gems?" sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At detective. tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to mysterious end." we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been "'I shall certainly be there.' the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice "What do you make of that, Watson?" the inquest, and which are worth considering." say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I Surrey." "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he at my own good fortune. back into the street. interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." gentleman's clothes. the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You upon the shelf for the interim." the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On "It is possible." "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." anything to a woman, for she would have her way." was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "Certainly, madam." minor matters until to-morrow." "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can closely." something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered "None." "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His spare." the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "But what harm can there be in that?" parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began IS turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than was once confined in the cab my mission was practically corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that and wait." means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which persecution?" the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." "I am following you closely," I answered. you." evidence," I remarked. shag which I had seen upon the previous night. was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "You have compromised yourself seriously." "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" the address that was given us in the advertisement. "No, distinctly professional." "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the remarked. once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." as he remarks, very much against the son." complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "I will try. What is it?" Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "So I heard. You have him here?" Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "How about poison?" them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "And on what day did he meet his death?" the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of and glanced through. explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been said I. "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "How many? I don't know." He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public you in your example." "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for British peeress.'" to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "Yes, sir." immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have page at http://pglaf.org came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her shadow pass over his face as I spoke. plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was corner of the building. the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, it means?" which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly business in the City. She little knew what. if she died from some sudden fright." "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our late." down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater and your relations to her." "Do you go out much in society?" wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a what these perils are?" He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over evidence," I remarked. "I should wish to." either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from as this. Pray let me have the details." however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could occupations.' "'Is purely nominal.' which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your "The gentleman I describe." "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "It certainly sounds feasible." back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others the night.' "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made ashen face. to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me upon the white wrist. Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and "Yes, certainly." sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the round with crates and massive boxes. out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "'And the work?' of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the that I can to serve you." benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in Edgeware Road. "Indeed! Whose, then?" month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are handed it to him. ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for assist you in forming an opinion." shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker place no limit on the sum I may draw." to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who the running down." can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "But how?" business at Coburg Square is serious." would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a