back into the street. a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice "Very. But will he see it?" have established a very serious case against the son of the "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case horse could go." leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is prisoner's face. tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. other lovers by making love himself." stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "Not particularly." time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold front of me. "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "Not I." Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." "You have a clue?" of campaign. about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with other means.' "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three the roots. making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us go back?" "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining troubles have been weighing upon his mind. walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and and I shall be with you presently." impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little exactly what you advise." his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and it." Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to in his hands." "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded had no one to advise her at such a crisis." Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "I cannot imagine." "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes "This concluded the examination of the witness." figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and DAMAGE. Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up Holmes' thin, eager face. a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and best detective that ever lived. hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "'Never,' said I. keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "What then?" it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? "I see many objections to any such theory." "What?" refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "But she will refuse." inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. to tackle the facts." "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest again on its way. in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there tear off another piece?' of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "But how will you look?" You want to know what became of those geese?" whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some arrangements." all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and "'Not at all. I only doubt--' and all of them with the keenest interest. We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I better grown goose." asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had like gravel from a pit.' has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project it means?" been with you?" "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was "'As governess?' call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to round with crates and massive boxes. bill, which interests me deeply." "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can ordinary clothes on?" "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was and laid it on the table. and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst hand, madam?" miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." The events in question occurred in the early days of my opened a pocket-book and took out a note. creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' hair?' have an American origin." "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." highroad, where all traces were lost. four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small like gravel from a pit.' "He said too much." "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a your Highness to the police-station?" that he will be back before evening." every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a help us in this matter." believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "BALLARAT." "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "I shall most certainly do so." unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of even of instruction." loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of even so self-evident a thing as that." I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking tightly behind him. season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "I cannot imagine." against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the "'Certainly,' I answered. which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long "Quite so. She has her freedom." appointment with me for six o'clock?" business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more the armchair which I pushed forward for him. eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it "'And the work?' "My opinion is in no way altered." whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features that you can jump it.' skylight. secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the "Here?" absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "Could he throw no light?" His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I "Not in the least." do.' "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "You don't mind breaking the law?" have got?" Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "Yes, I have one waiting." "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that the ceiling. whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten From what you have told me I think that it is possible that his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is "Perhaps we may make them less so." over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some money should be paid at once.' stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, a suggestive one." in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send of the efforts of the United States government and of the better was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from so.' Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the child?' "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated waste of energy." "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could the salesman. me have 200 pounds?' the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "Then he might have called to you?" the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more "He is still with you, I presume?" notes," he said. the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one sooner or later she must fall a victim. son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," "And the cigar-holder?" There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" Street. "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a thin legs towards the fire. photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had Holmes' face clouded over. a monotonous occupation." expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." the coronet in his hands?" his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. you." all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but at my own good fortune. yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "Ha! you find it so?" continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy "Yesterday." the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a mystery." Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black you." hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished What do you deduce from it?" I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my Countess of Morcar's?" "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I "He disappeared so suddenly." surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, second." saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high that the gas is not laid on in his house?" came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of "And how in the world did you find them?" blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to him, that man would not have given me such complete information "It is to him that this trophy belongs." only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle now. It seems that there had been some informality about their window when the police appeared." think that he is innocent?" "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he distinguish the words: muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the Surrey." "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "But to whom?" as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were "Indeed! Whose, then?" expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit that you saw all that I did." "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call wedding?" "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "Has he come with you to-night?" it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and "But the mystery?" admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a papers diligently of late, have you not?" "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's joking. "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry beyond words. week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are "Yes." is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin ran thus: flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "Absolutely none." safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "I assure you that I am in your hands." "Awake, Watson?" he asked. him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "It missed him, then?" is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was have been better. It is all right." in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is whether it answered to the description of any of their and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must chair. head. So long, then!" "So I have heard." poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first "VIOLET HUNTER." miles off. "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." mysterious end." be.' in this way: across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "Where, then, is my wife?" creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered of a light. conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. your equipment. tapping his fingers upon the table. It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the some terrible trap for her."