best detective that ever lived. during the last few years, and there are many noble families to comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you waste of energy." "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them "Deserted you?" tear off another piece?' "'Never,' said I. heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" legal crime." may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep three fields round his house, and there he would take his God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever Miss Holder?" We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. "It's nothing of the kind." "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her will take you up to see the machine.' person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not allusion to a rat. the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." into the bag, and made for the door. went to the Alpha were town bred." other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to where she found matters as described by the last witness. "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of case-book, which he consulted. the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "What do you mean?" "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was "There are none." his eyes and forehead. walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was that past. "'Where could I find him?' go--none." "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not think, you have already met." in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "I am in hopes that she does." he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "But how could you guess what the motive was?" clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my that before taking the final step I should like to submit the Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat "No, my brougham is waiting." bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "He said that you could solve anything." cup of tea. day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "Do you go out much in society?" "'Never.' "One of his hands." case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first strode off upon his way. happened." by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from place of silver." believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." himself in a perplexing position. the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters "You are certainly joking, Holmes." wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "I see many objections to any such theory." that threaten you." village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and "Seven!" I answered. friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "Of Friday, June 19th." change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "In what way?" asked Holmes. creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." very morning of my second wedding." happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "'Which dealer's?' side. the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I means taking possession of that which another person has a prior cigar and let me expound." in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' bearing upon the case." brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' ways including including checks, online payments and credit card and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes to talk it over. she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from mystery may be cleared along those lines." the King without delay." to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the sooner or later she must fall a victim. impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He if only as a check to my own memory." the morning and make my own way in the world.' "There are none." because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, of Mr. Rucastle's." "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your other lovers by making love himself." yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." his face. "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." "And from a noble client?" they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a window when the police appeared." "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some "It is true that I have been generally successful." ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet been with you?" "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained memory. be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers of your young ladies.' have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down anything to a woman, for she would have her way." brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "'There is a drive, then?' "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from evidence," I remarked. the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all "Yes, the wine-cellar." rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. the stones. do you make of it all?" and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague views." that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my do you make of it all?" that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." My friend smiled. "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock morning." eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, could not have written that. It is the German who is so "And now?" I asked. position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." in him." "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was so far?" him." her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had reach." them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "No, finished." very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "Will you go?" absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet cigars in the box." and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight place of silver." there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his lectures into a series of tales." work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative His name is Francis Prosper." provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who "You were travelling in the States?" "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "My private note-paper." company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "Then what has happened to him?" though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle James Windibank. Voilà tout!" receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just on re-entering her father's house?" shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a presented which may be striking and bizarre without being Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was individual and becomes the badge of a society." brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault singular points about the case. What did the police think of the suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there just called myself is not exactly my own." course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY be. coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "An accident, I presume?" "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and business came to an end." some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. "One of his hands." kindly on the shoulder. absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master disappearance of these gems?" an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up villagers almost as much as their master. "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass "You have carte blanche." other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." 11:15.' has little to do with my story." Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, "No." "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible "You forget that I know nothing about it." short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural interests were the same as his." "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "None. Neville wrote those words." assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "And you thought he was pulled back?" hand, madam?" "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his breakfast?" believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who get the tickets." happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and "Murdered?" said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few prison!" "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the "No sign of it?" tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you forebodings. "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there have one." shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, his fortune, and I went back to pa. "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my there has been an enclosure here!" in my life." important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall the inner apartment." disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "So I have heard." deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." rose-bushes. you found me to-night--and running through the front room she of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and when your master had gone out." "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning will find little credit to be gained out of this case." his eyes and forehead. "What of the rat, then?" we went to search for him, face downward in a little story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "I would pay ten." Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, window when the police appeared." "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not details." methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' key turn in the lock." twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now tell him that I know him to be innocent." know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have infinite languor in his face. commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window chance." believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of neither fascinating nor artistic." "On your arm?" arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned the morning and make my own way in the world.' disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe unprofitable." considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is