"Then I do not see the point." been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" "'Yes.' that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all cheerful." protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One nothing with him." jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "How are you getting on?" "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? of note-paper. It read in this fashion: were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't meant it for the best. the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "And you don't know his address?" you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' "And I say east," said my patient. disturbance in my wife." "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. nonsense.' silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "Never." agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." bears upon the case?" burst into a hearty fit of laughter. "Yes, all." reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "You were travelling in the States?" few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." without success. At last the little money which I had saved began plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in voice, changing her seat as requested. behind me. "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the were wasted." the nursery. hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all "Your French gold?" very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a quite distinctive." satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "Yes, it was twisted." glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email is a common subject for conversation. cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is was a lad." "You have a clue?" suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "Yes, the wine-cellar." other, as fresh and trim as possible. yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "That is it on the dressing-table." knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, prison!" "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time stepfather?" half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he union?" matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, train.' obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "Is he quiet?" in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "Absolutely?" should be taken.' "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been Countess of Morcar's?" "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the "Come in!" said he. the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "An enemy?" with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a to talk it over. already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for "What office?" a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "In heaven's name, what for?" you in your example." The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself such attractions and accomplishments?' Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "How about poison?" has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less know all about it," he snarled. "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are what I may call a really hard day's work." look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I "Not I." country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." drove away. knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack him. laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper "Witness: Nothing definite. "And Miss Sutherland?" and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I silent! Oh, he will be silent!' poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his public press." of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for Street. married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was at my remark. coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "My photograph." Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was she slowly sank and died without having recovered her fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House ways of our fellow-men." lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." London for the present?" any little problem which you may submit to me." give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself "Frequently." downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "Witness: It was. "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "That is also quite modern," said the lady. lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few prepare for the new role I have to play." The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door "Eh? What was that?" It may be so in this case, also." Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that "But you can know nothing of this?" even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through "Eh? What was that?" "He said that you could solve anything." whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less said I. and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "Who was the criminal, then?" was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that had no one to advise her at such a crisis." the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and "'A dozen yards or so.' which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which the very letters. But what is this written above them?' feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "Then, as to money?" James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" him nearly every evening." outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I delighted to hear it," he said. conversation I have gathered that they have been married about "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the "You have but to name it." laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of corner of the building. at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, into the room. lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business Pope's Court. "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." "Oh, fresh and glossy." purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's wedding?" have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that once more on the important position which you have been fortunate up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should hereditary King of Bohemia." Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. chance." "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some back alive. dramatic, in fact." "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "I don't say that. Perhaps." he. was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing where Mr. Fordham shows you.' widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." maid will bring up your coffee." poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the shall not find me ungrateful." "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to look upon these things in a different way." "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, gone before you can get him to hospital." "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, Pope's Court, Fleet Street." neither fascinating nor artistic." his forehead." miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took of his shoulders. twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously introspective fashion. "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man you, my dear young lady?' in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "Yes, the wine-cellar." congratulate you again." aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and cigars in their mouths. "Is he quiet?" employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "'Entirely.' furiously. clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining me. You must get home instantly and act." Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. horse could go." so.' at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a "My own seal." something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than families. Now for the facts. being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "Yesterday." to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of this Miss Turner." goes." given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" things are very often connected not with the larger but with the girl said." "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless detective. analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I outbreak?" "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly "'I am sure that I do not know.' excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled characteristics, but those are the more obvious." myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able that you wished to speak to me?' seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and "A client, then?" Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. "No legal papers or certificates?" said I. shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, and shall probably return to London by the evening train." "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on "The rest you will leave in our hands." knowledge of the world." "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the your most interesting statement." correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "Yes, from Horsham." some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of lumber-room." I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "That is it on the dressing-table." them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "Why, what do you mean?" "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "Oh, fresh and glossy." or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you she has been waylaid. There has been no result." air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through "And you don't know his address?" "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "Was your sister dressed?" man. I know him from the photograph." Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. Mary, has deserted me." very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took companion quietly. standing smiling on the door-step. the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, "No, finished." silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of