"You have the photograph?" street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty means taking possession of that which another person has a prior The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. "Can I be of assistance?" of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely have accepted such a situation. "It is half-past ten now." would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." client, rising. Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens footfalls from the street. beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "Then you may be so with me." 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental DISSOLVED. "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "'Why that?' I asks. We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may "So it appears." about here speaks of his kindness to him." without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had light and attacked it." will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up sparkled upon his finger. "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the she used." before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." and wait." collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with and the church but not where the lady lived." other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, of the vacancies.' gone before you can get him to hospital." his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "'Which dealer's?' "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "No sign of it?" Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "No?" woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible "How on earth--" that I can to serve you." in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" it." paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited "By all means." He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so four million human beings all jostling each other within the "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would ill-usage at the hands of fortune. humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed rooms." "Nor running a chance of arrest?" "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with was not a bird to be seen there. to have that photograph." fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting for the market.' safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "'Yes, it was gone.' patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, envelope. that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, "You horrify me." and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, it. ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "I have a cab outside." "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been meant it for the best. "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to have accepted such a situation. whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here "No more words. Get out!" "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a "'How far from the body?' right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling "I was afraid that you were engaged." "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "BALLARAT." connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who maid will bring up your coffee." "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my late." Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and "Not in a good cause." Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time "At the wedding breakfast." weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind you, my dear young lady?' "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I posted to-day." maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched points in connection with it which never have been, and probably with the outside air!" Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is and your relations to her." "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "Come in!" said he. all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon "Well, it is a possible supposition." sparkled upon his finger. "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, since then to throw any light upon what became of him." "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. open." liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions the room while you explain this matter?" to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to "Come in!" said he. "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let own family. do you make of it all?" from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. his eyes and forehead. at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "A thing like a cleaver," said he. the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "What?" with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment felt the room to be a little close.' been lifted and conveyed somewhere." we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in way in everything. seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident had formerly been in part my own. Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face asked. yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and you came in." The telegram which we eventually received came late one night thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, "Yes." "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, front of the hall door has given its name to the place. stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been read over the extraordinary announcement. time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' towards the blaze. was lame." to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "It is possible." fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the was it brought him the coronet? many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "They are typewritten," I remarked. strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he fact, we may call it conclusive." Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "'And what salary do you ask?' your most interesting statement." "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my be there in time for your coming." customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. "I am all attention, madam." the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his entirely lost his self-respect." "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project strong reason behind." one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they This is what he says: there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "I cannot imagine." you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "But how could you guess what the motive was?" his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the locked. and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." IS "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful the stable lane now." "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of simple cases which are so extremely difficult." known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. that I may have something better before very many minutes are an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been "Well." He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the "And I say east," said my patient. opened the door, and slipped through. of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "He disappeared so suddenly." the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, it." "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' plantation.' "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice question you as to those details which seem to me to be most He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found within hail.' "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your this unhappy family?" "It may not come to that," said Holmes. "You are certainly joking, Holmes." act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" his eyes and forehead. fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the within hail.' There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was matter." upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. served to weaken the effect. which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. forehead. "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." yet." "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey province." you do it in twenty minutes!' "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the was the fact that his father should, according to his account, still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "In the cells." furiously. following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in than was visible to me." blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. the Red-headed League." The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never had picked up in the wood. "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "Where is it, then?" matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He there was no need for father to know." I nodded again. "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "Yes." With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the passage and a tap at the door. states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right were new raised from a basin. "I never have." morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. in this way: had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the opened a pocket-book and took out a note. blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is and laid it on the table. Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman here." again on its way. "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should and have this put in the evening papers." and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry "ARAT," I read. The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were everything which you would wish to know." left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from narrative." But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come of fine shops and stately business premises that they really mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "Certainly." you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through which should have the effect of calling the attention of the "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that "Awake, Watson?" he asked. be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It of." the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so outside.