"'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "Did he not advertise?" directors have had misgivings upon the subject." THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in woman who has had her own way to make in the world. business." enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was felt the room to be a little close.' exactly what you advise." your most interesting statement." he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "Yes, it was twisted." clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A fled together." town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I ourselves in the office." not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble you do it in twenty minutes!' "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, she used." "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a that, and I came down." "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "What?" morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a the side-table." Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and best detective that ever lived. merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, business matters.' putting in the horse. you in your example." in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "What then?" "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in as noiselessly as she had come. face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "Why, it's a dummy," said he. highroad, where all traces were lost. "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon tassel actually lying upon the pillow. or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and go--none." everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "None. Neville wrote those words." hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that business matters.' a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. fattened it expressly for you.' "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the examine." stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the tail." "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret him to be an active member of the medical profession." "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my him and tried to hold him back. a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped said he. dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, the south-west, I see." actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he me. You must get home instantly and act." them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered prisoner's face. from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then down. believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. any more." Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "But to whom?" same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "Never." upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "There are none." hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are carpenter." "Never." of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still "No, I had a dozen." suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that will find little credit to be gained out of this case." classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of memory. the warnings." whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked the general public were present, then?" happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, The police have openly confessed that they can at present make where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George thirty. who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced Street. "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I through." away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "'Is purely nominal.' business came to an end." "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual already been minutely examined." "In which, sir?" violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying down in his armchair and closing his eyes. "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism bearing upon the case." The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and in my life." "You have it, sir, just as it happened." has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish invisible to me," I remarked. where she found matters as described by the last witness. "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. he died? rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were "How did you trace it, then?" objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing was shining brightly. horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads was already answered. with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself returned to France?" spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you Mary, has deserted me." "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My I am not easy in my mind about them." naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they said he. swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate in your London, you will know that the office of the company is "Absolutely none." is," said he presently: "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time wanted for ourselves." Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her you want, then?' points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that knowledge of the world." eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a British peeress.'" "'Certainly not. But why?' "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "The knees of his trousers." distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet Holmes. Pope's Court, Fleet Street." workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, row." St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "I was mad--insane." with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this time." sparkled upon his finger. "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in visitors." box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "Tired-looking or fresh?" and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated said he. suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a away into the river." "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking companion. occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that him to be an active member of the medical profession." "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "It surprised me." "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. fashion which was peculiar to him. small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the lips." every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which Young McCarthy must be got off, however." "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one gone. "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "His face fell immediately. lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "But it has twice been burgled." himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "And the murderer?" like gravel from a pit.' "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's never to learn it at all." his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a that I may have something better before very many minutes are desk. said I. stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "It missed him, then?" Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did which are rolled in Rotterdam." Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at and all of them with the keenest interest. your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "One?" manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. "'Is purely nominal.' "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. fire. You quite follow me?" the window, rose as we entered. breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to been deceived." perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. at my own good fortune. works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for "But not more so than I to find you." "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "So I have heard." undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the "I don't believe it." practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "So I am. Very much so." set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "You forget that I know nothing about it." red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's in darkness. a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip American. Then who could this American be, and why should he pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly "What will you say?" Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the outside." "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to nothing with him." "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he you?' Heh?' and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa the Red-headed League." think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid emerged. and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers problems help me to do so." understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to "Frequently." test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: "'Certainly not.' lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of "You horrify me." before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy chill to my heart. exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The the house with me." "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a back into the street. I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to triumphant cloud from his cigarette. I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is most interesting one." shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "I will do it." "No, I am descending." a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On I nodded to show that I had heard. "She walked into the breakfast-room." that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had a few minutes he said that it would be all right. jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his for the market.' "Did you observe the colour?" time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at detective. of the way of danger. very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army,