your room." which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are weapon." "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's investigation." eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. has little to do with my story." Holmes' face clouded over. moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. all?" "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "What can you not understand?" have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to beg that you will break it off." could not have written that. It is the German who is so mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still "On your arm?" admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." pressing in one house as in another. England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "None." the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' do you make of it all?" earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, rose-bushes. know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely "Pray be precise as to details," said he. absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he absolutely follow my advice in every respect." behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every that I am arrested." this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" considering the formidable letters which were received by himself in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long have had none more fantastic than this." the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "But what will you do?" "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes delighted to hear it," he said. "But what is it you wish?" here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the there when the Rucastles went away." "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger formed some opinion?" such attractions and accomplishments?' cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "Where, indeed?" "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our strange features which were associated with the two crimes which overpowering excitement and concern. "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "Then what has happened to him?" up this clue while it is still hot." public press." a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "No, finished." "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, "It is possible." zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest the one as in the other." thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the answered with a sidelong glance. Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. shall use the carriage to-night." daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote You want to know what became of those geese?" I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. "When did she vanish, then?" directors have had misgivings upon the subject." do.' "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he soul! here is her carriage at the door." round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my me. we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of cigar and let me expound." between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now some water from a caraffe. would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, learned something! Where are the gems?" to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said you." You can understand that this register and diary may implicate October 9, 1890. Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? gentleman's clothes. belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each do you make of it all?" "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside Count Von Kramm." "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well depend upon my doing so.' visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the was feeling which was the fattest.' again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "But you were on a friendly footing?" the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "Have you it here?" editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and "Yes, there are nearly always some there." fatally injured? in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be Stoke Moran." expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was triumphant cloud from his cigarette. Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and this poor creature." her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "Then I can wait in the next room." "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing "No, I think that I'll take it." them, and came down just as you departed. it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where you?' "You know me, then?" throat." the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it better in every way that they should make their position a little greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of goes." "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "Here?" crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "Game for a morning drive?" with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between train from Paddington which would bring you there at about ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure absolutely follow my advice in every respect." of note-paper. It read in this fashion: being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "VIOLET HUNTER." was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "It must be recovered." "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." perplexity from it to my illustrious client. vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm "I should be immensely obliged to you." "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To electronic works "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down best detective that ever lived. Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must "It is solved." "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you open." My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I completely overtopped every other consideration that we both copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon and prosperity to your house. Good-night." might have a private word with us. present." favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat "The Coroner: What do you mean? year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which morning." part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, habit of advancing money.' took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "Was your sister dressed?" "A call for help, you thought?" staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding Holmes. "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you "In the cells." prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like lectures into a series of tales." "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "Entirely." of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who in your London, you will know that the office of the company is "I say it is." recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a "Frequently." what I may call a really hard day's work." "Only as much as we can deduce." "'It is locked up,' I answered. found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "'What, the red-headed man?' lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to at once, for I have only half an hour." A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, "'What, the red-headed man?' "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece for securing the situation." pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and "Pray continue your narrative." the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and I took the paper from him and read as follows: hard-headed British jury." pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in "I shall be delighted." being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." Chief Executive and Director "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular it right.' down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. at my remark. envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the use an arc-and-compass breastpin." her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For highroad, where all traces were lost. address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by "By train from Waterloo." "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and chance." trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" strength in the others." upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "And I." minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "Absolutely?" appointment with me for six o'clock?" "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up think you a quite exceptional woman." "I am to be neutral?" Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my lost his Christmas dinner." common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were "We must have a cab." the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "Could he throw no light?" pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the good-night and bustled off upon her way. the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "What!" he roared. deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and made his money." "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "Then I can wait in the next room." do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet shaken than I had ever seen him. in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one appointment with me for six o'clock?" down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. against a man in the prime of life?" problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in despair." manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue shall not find me ungrateful." "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum His smile broadened. time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of redistribution. at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself peculiar to him. "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy "But she could not love him." no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a