Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my in this way: thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, opened the door, and slipped through. ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "Yes, it was twisted." beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "Yes." showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over begin with, and I had not got mine yet." How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must nonsense.' consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." public press." think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, where she found matters as described by the last witness. white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your it. light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "Yes, but only for you and me." "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already business." friends, not even his own brother. "I don't say that. Perhaps." be. building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander "Certainly." police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." the Assizes." grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "'Where could I find him?' Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, business at Coburg Square is serious." more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." again." as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "That also I could fathom." room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, best detective that ever lived. who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the with some details as to your case." although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town down in his armchair and closing his eyes. "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, four million human beings all jostling each other within the cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love front of the hall door has given its name to the place. if I call to-morrow?" red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." all that?" been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might in his hands." "VIOLET HUNTER." "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was be best to do. For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is as yours." my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless of fine shops and stately business premises that they really may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to "Of what?" "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully chill to my heart. prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." system of imprisonment?" "And why in hopes?" "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the and laid it on the table. "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." head. So long, then!" "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for "So I heard. You have him here?" held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. too. other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. the Red-headed League." out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." during that time.' matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the there was no need for father to know." the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside second." "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "'Is purely nominal.' electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and comes from the middle window." steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid "An enemy?" think that any burglar could have done. vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots you." fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and there!' directly by questioning you." "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "It is possible." hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "Not in the least." manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "Yes, there are nearly always some there." believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire "'Quite sure, dad.' "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may him nearly every evening." have one." young Openshaw's." You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "You think that he is dead?" however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those furiously. At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "What?" a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a room had already been engaged for us. instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you "But I have heard all that you have heard." however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "'Yes, sir.' the dangers which encompass me." prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are bill, which interests me deeply." me have 200 pounds?' with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of my special province." which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The new acquaintance to Baker Street. room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already quickly through a disagreeable task. Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where American. Then who could this American be, and why should he there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and possible that we could bring him back to her? "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! "When did it break out?" Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was stammered. along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are dead, shall be safe with us." me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little spark where all is dark to me." "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At newspaper selections." his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It quite distinctive." affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that interests were the same as his." "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he which are rolled in Rotterdam." the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in answered with a sidelong glance. "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and newspaper selections." hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction "But I am all in the dark." relief. is a common subject for conversation. grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely noting anything else of interest. effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread is worth.' "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their populous neighbourhood." aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest criminal. We have already had experience of such." against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "'I shall certainly be there.' which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That said I. simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "The gentleman I describe." upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very shadow pass over his face as I spoke. that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & enough to aid us in our search." sofa. This way, please!" simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but never came back." travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but success. explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and newspaper selections." cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have room?" warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it did not hear it also.' I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as throat." Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said key turn in the lock." about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. walking." and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this forbidden door. "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt you." pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "My photograph." He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to "Why did you pick him?" thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the James Windibank. Voilà tout!" world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this "I came to find a friend." "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the at a side door. back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do used to be." with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "But she will refuse." "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do some water from a caraffe. "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she himself. derbies." "I will get her to show me." "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "What! You do not mean bodies?" letters?" last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in III. would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they himself to tell his story. was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project "You saw the ventilator, too?" be. to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by me, and I could not think that his explanation of the "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side you understand?" the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into was used.' Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a as this. Pray let me have the details." narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "And I to find an enemy." "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found "No sign of it?" the roots. problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, which our visitor detailed to us. "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached Pope's Court. the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which my former friend and companion. across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and clanging. "My stepfather's business papers." predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a will find little credit to be gained out of this case." that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love someone who had been in Australia." livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. been able to understand it, in a very few words. over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by Holmes' thin, eager face. the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm "I have come for advice." know all about it," he snarled. Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" beyond words. pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "Very murderous indeed." very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client obstinate." "That you are never beaten." say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did there was no need for father to know." "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with