"Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." Pool. "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue of it with the greatest attention. "And the murderer?" Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then very old mansion. morning." the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge "'Very good.' copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the passage and a tap at the door. "Certainly, madam." "Then I shall certainly come." Foundation ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his his cane at the bell-pull. an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own papers diligently of late, have you not?" "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "You have carte blanche." "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally conceal it?" dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new you give your casting vote to?" down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, "Yes." Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we four million human beings all jostling each other within the armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it villagers almost as much as their master. The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up up this clue while it is still hot." refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks presented which may be striking and bizarre without being erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already along the entire front of the house, with three long windows hereditary King of Bohemia." out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had and the church but not where the lady lived." cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "I see many objections to any such theory." presented which may be striking and bizarre without being perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are congratulate you again." obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and "Just look it up, then." out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by works. See paragraph 1.E below. continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading ready to-morrow?' permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out meant it for the best. of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the "'What do you call purely nominal?' to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works them, and came down just as you departed. fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew the side-table." interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "Dirty?" The police have openly confessed that they can at present make laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." I leave." the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "Thank you. And your address?" life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, since then to throw any light upon what became of him." never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes Project Gutenberg-tm works. thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I only touch the interest." the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is for its centre. Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands posted to-day." "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he "In answer to an advertisement." "Yes, there are nearly always some there." http://www.gutenberg.net "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "'Yes, I promise.' the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "Perfectly so." slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." "'What, the red-headed man?' address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have what is your own theory as to what took place?" "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "It is no ordinary one." made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "I cannot imagine." "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "What do you make of that, Watson?" disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the certainly do as you advise." unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free cigar and let me expound." which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen 'I should be able to look after that for you.' the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just answered with a sidelong glance. original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow "It is his hat." my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. Holmes' thin, eager face. what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To ready to-morrow?' returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It unprecedented a position." the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so towards the blaze. that chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one morning." least a fellow-countryman. wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "No, finished." "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of not interfere, come what may. You understand?" whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, three fields round his house, and there he would take his bill, which interests me deeply." Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both "None." "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I which we had just quitted. "Did you observe the colour?" passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, McCarthy's innocence. this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." get her out of the way." up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low "Nearly eleven." happened." Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King call for it in person on Monday morning.' away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "How did you trace it, then?" "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" "That sounds a little paradoxical." Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered would then never go into court at all." - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "I have my revolver," said I. traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down business in the City. She little knew what. keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a formed some opinion?" companion. and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my I shall communicate with you." "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "Won't it ring?" useful material for showing traces. The double line a little found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one "So I heard. You have him here?" "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I "'Yes, sir.' quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. business matters.' about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I "In San Francisco, a year ago." thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "Deserted you?" unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way "I shall be delighted." have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their answer." "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I have I gained?" fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "Yes." Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since "You horrify me!" noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange most important business. It is probable that he will be away all "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, weary and pale-looking. of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, union?" violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are "That is not always so easy." upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "'Where could I find him?' his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his Holmes. details." locked. "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet his cane at the bell-pull. and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" constraint." of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father "It was." footfalls from the street. street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for note?" "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that only touch the interest." infinite languor in his face. my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going you?' the loss of it. "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down yourselves in at night?" With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which orange pips. "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "How can you tell that?" pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "No, distinctly professional." "Yes, that is the Crown." "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney father's place of business?" may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such said I. such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to "Yes." believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being read over the extraordinary announcement. "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not "No." the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" out." name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately the morning and make my own way in the world.' the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, opened the door, and slipped through. "'Not at all. I only doubt--' back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "Where, then?" chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution