upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "That is easily got." To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the have accepted such a situation. and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the was it brought him the coronet? other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a helping a boy to put up the shutters. prepare for the new role I have to play." "But not more so than I to find you." his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort "I was mad--insane." reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, "'Certainly not.' "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I matter over." utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "Who was the criminal, then?" uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. fear." exactly what you advise." "I see no marks." a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with wedding?" jewels which you have stolen?' and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly to-night." going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I which I could not give. He asked for Alice. usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform "Stolen." shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, obstinate." "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two most interesting one." "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to some mystery and the punishment of some crime." took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the "None." "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative "It missed him, then?" as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was "Why, what do you mean?" "I came to find a friend." "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "And when will you call?" sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by that Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, "My photograph." opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying system of imprisonment?" hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day business." known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a were unconscious?" fear." he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, business came to an end." Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "'I am sure if I had known--' "Where did he live, then?" plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, is," said he presently: his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the he bowed and left the room without another word. to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's may have an influence upon European history." "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. status with the IRS. "He said too much." in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "None." return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been hopeless attempt at recovering them." wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." "Come in!" said he. carpenter." glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive an introduction to him?" me. as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You which should have the effect of calling the attention of the Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "And the cigar-holder?" Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "Yes, it was twisted." "I don't believe it." gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little "But of what society?" I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began late!' narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "Game for a morning drive?" at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You whatever might befall. with some details as to your case." poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah there when the Rucastles went away." "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "What will you do, then?" be best to do. She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to intimate personal affairs in this public manner." ceremony." ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not down in his armchair and closing his eyes. persecution?" woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any where she found matters as described by the last witness. "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else she used." "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "Not I." "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "'And what are they worth?' I asked. ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, "By train from Waterloo." were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate better grown goose." We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, my special province." child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the "How can you tell that?" "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in Holmes." felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" "You have it, sir, just as it happened." the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be Watson," he said cordially. "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all "Ah!" confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be the bed, and you in that chair." is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the corner of the building. claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, she to prove their authenticity?" scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I looking up at the numbers of the houses." sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and was used.' and the whole place is in a blaze." would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding "Come in!" said Holmes. Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive his knees, staring into the fire. considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She meant it for the best. days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out is worth.' "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our matter." "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to Gutenberg-tm License. "And when will you call?" of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a happened." Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "One?" "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making than to us. pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It shall use the carriage to-night." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to "Yes." "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I wall." "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "I will do it." to-night?' go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "You have a clue?" lamp. King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases crime." chamber." blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." silent! Oh, he will be silent!' open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot ceremony." rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the union?" There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and sooner or later she must fall a victim. will take you up to see the machine.' "Could he throw no light?" though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the "I was afraid that you were engaged." authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "Perfectly so." visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how which our visitor detailed to us. "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "Certainly." the very letters. But what is this written above them?' murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. possible that we could bring him back to her? the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "That is possible." erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon politicians who had been sent down from the North. photograph?" "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the answered with a sidelong glance. "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when done what I asked you, Jones?" was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." in. galvanised. "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that the dangers which encompass me." so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "'In my own bureau.' that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "Of what?" "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and frequently gained my first real insight into the character of after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her his forehead." "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any I nodded to show that I had heard. buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and answer." in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be asked with his eyes open. first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of