"'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country "'Where could I find him?' "On your arm?" arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal a suggestive one." someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew "That was it, sir." but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that your troubles." "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. "How often?" James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his returning from some small jollification and was making his way was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to "Not social, then?" for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the intrusion of other matters." submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." away to you." with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in do you make of it all?" lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I "Yes, at the mines." "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be matter." leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is said he at last. the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." individual and becomes the badge of a society." know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "I would pay ten." pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "Yes, sir." murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his tapping his fingers upon the table. for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their prison!" platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I have had none more fantastic than this." protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. suspect him." remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very works. See paragraph 1.E below. noble correspondent could be. prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all then?" and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid said I. had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for new acquaintance to Baker Street. see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy went to the Alpha were town bred." and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and official police." inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot the station." "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage to talk it over. late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. exactly what you advise." to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for fasten all the windows?" providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, some water from a caraffe. six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the bell. Holmes whistled. And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" happened." it. Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered me where it went to?" "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit mystery may be cleared along those lines." questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a morning." indiscretion." dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not "Which are?" should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man reach." right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "But how did you gain them?" His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "I cannot imagine." "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a was lame." taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "You have it, sir, just as it happened." which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This must compliment you." never came back." "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked "Of Friday, June 19th." Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "I am in hopes that she does." wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay Watson," he said cordially. of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "And sit in the dark?" keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature I approached. abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project "'What then?' I asked. "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls business at Coburg Square is serious." teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a But Holmes shook his head gravely. upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." that the gas is not laid on in his house?" facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "What, then, did Peterson do?" "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back occurred." be. "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as foot. the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at noise which awoke you from your sleep?" "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not "And what did you see?" Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at recall any case within my experience which looked at the first upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge have been better. It is all right." throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "Yes." "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "One of the highest in England." "Not social, then?" handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my "It is solved." gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather what is your own theory as to what took place?" here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her nonsense.' as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I drove away. heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an round with crates and massive boxes. "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for It may be so in this case, also." points to suicide?" which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give papers must be those that are destroyed.' "I am to be neutral?" At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "None." that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room one's self under obligations.' to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his coat-tails." examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was people in all walks of life. "But it has twice been burgled." "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey John Swain, of St. Augustine. be there in time for your coming." "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish "On your arm?" charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of you give your casting vote to?" came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "Quite so." "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss the ceiling. the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "Won't it ring?" Street. upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed address. Dr. Gregory B. Newby sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. fait accompli?" "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee "Oh, the cause is excellent!" wedding?" was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew "Was she in good spirits?" frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "At what time?" showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' 'please.'" "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left will not take me long to tell. the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But least a fellow-countryman. had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "I beg pardon." compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our had a long day." Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a "Do you go out much in society?" "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even 1.F. coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should or in danger--" but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "It is possible." "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a there were one or two details which were new to me. But the one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the case-book, which he consulted. scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, them?" "Really! You surprise me." workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a door?" outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a article?" know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "Ah!" shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It murdered man." "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest upon a handsome competence. had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the "I shall most certainly do so." ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer in a very precise fashion." again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "No sign of it?" lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "But how?" my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "And how did he make his money?" "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and and laid it on the table. received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a question. green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of married her." "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand the nursery. but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his go from here to the Strand." work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was sake, don't!" client, rising. upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed works. See paragraph 1.E below. adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." fish-monger and a tide-waiter." these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself American. Then who could this American be, and why should he Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "Holmes, the busybody!" Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before showing my impatience. silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," a little more before I quite committed myself. yards of it?' But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be think that any burglar could have done. money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if said I. woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock written, and locked the door of the office after me. this poor creature." "I say that I have solved it." wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner,