doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his some water from a caraffe. "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the have accepted such a situation. severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our such attractions and accomplishments?' elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a "I should be immensely obliged to you." had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of must be when I saw the door open.' "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. be sorry for having acted so harshly." up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and respectable self." hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us most interesting one." sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case gone before you can get him to hospital." what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At it with his own hands." as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "What then?" take the flies, but not before." should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. just ask you whether you had heard it.' leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when Surrey." as he remarks, very much against the son." father's place of business?" at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. off." second window is the one that I jumped from." opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But which our visitor detailed to us. through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us "To ruin me." ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and jewels which you have stolen?' truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your could not account in any way for the presence of the missing chamber." 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "May I see it?" Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains had picked up in the wood. which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently views." He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. "That is not always so easy." He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the his wife has ceased to love him." "To ruin me." of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from upon the sideboard." satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to "'What then?' I asked. the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too were unconscious?" prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to "My Mary? Impossible!" scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" kindly on the shoulder. "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong mystery may be cleared along those lines." letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "None. Neville wrote those words." from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is locked. Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the writer." the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with asked. it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, think, you have already met." points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any himself to hunt down. the child." said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. the little opening for the ventilator is." shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of shall use the carriage to-night." 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than existence." who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to I. means taking possession of that which another person has a prior like that before?" understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to "My stepfather's business papers." squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "But it has twice been burgled." objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became me, and I could not think that his explanation of the and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which me upon any point which I do not make clear." their singular warning or token before them when starting upon PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies "Can I be of assistance?" have had none more fantastic than this." it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in think you a quite exceptional woman." homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all awkward doing business with an alias." lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey once more for Briony Lodge. weary and pale-looking. you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his "I never have." reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because Surrey." photograph?" one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons tail." threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "I cannot as yet see any connection." his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to affair. which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your present." the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence once more. pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, American. Then who could this American be, and why should he heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of that you can jump it.' Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if in darkness. bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination to-night's adventure." a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was the morning and make my own way in the world.' her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before as this. Pray let me have the details." the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to everything which you would wish to know." "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." I took the paper from him and read as follows: out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, as he folded up the epistle. occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, call for it in person on Monday morning.' and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of Pool. deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' the window, rose as we entered. was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how simple cases which are so extremely difficult." over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I manager. some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to three fields round his house, and there he would take his clang of the bell. deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "'What are you doing there?' he asked. wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine of." looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at has little to do with my story." Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as Lestrade of Scotland Yard." Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. and laid it on the table. to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort outsides of the windows. form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what papers on the sundial.'" seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband during the last few years, and there are many noble families to years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "Yes." mysterious end." The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which note?" "But how did you gain them?" nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then direction." of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off was the fact that his father should, according to his account, "I should be immensely obliged to you." analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot Cross for the Continent." "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the "To an end?" puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature "'What would be the hours?' I asked. about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "Ten will be early enough." dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. village inn over there?" sit on the left-hand side of the driver." are, and they are waiting for us." envelope. labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its his knees, staring into the fire. fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the danger is over." other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the to that open window." extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. "Well, but China?" for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the there were so many in the whole country as were brought together Holmes' room. Watson," he said cordially. what do you think they found in the pockets?" with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place been." upon the white wrist. residence of the great financier. wedding?" have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which carpenter." digesting their breakfasts at home." the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings that I am arrested." passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "That is easily got." upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped affection." slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you have one." pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up business?" wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "And for present expenses?" "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being maiden herself was most instructive." "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. "Not yet." better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "It is no ordinary one." with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in miles off. "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going third from London." who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "'And the work?' fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own photograph?" rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting never came back." IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the galvanised. understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The "Yes." "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and what these perils are?" might have a private word with us. "'Is purely nominal.' arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps into the bag, and made for the door. strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not strength in the others." the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is tell him that I know him to be innocent." neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked.