"'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about "Yes, it would be as well." electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "No, I think that I'll take it." "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, have not had my rubber." simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some "It looks newer than the other things?" waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his done what I asked you, Jones?" "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "But his lameness?" very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and "I am still in the dark." if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, to Leatherhead. "So I am. Very much so." Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local The events in question occurred in the early days of my with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "And sit in the dark?" brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "My private note-paper." not fit the lock." this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with "To an end?" thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The not within a twentieth part of the market price." his eyes and forehead. "What can you not understand?" my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George "But how?" Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all "'Very good.' decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his other lovers by making love himself." peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never Holmes. and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to things are very often connected not with the larger but with the "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "I am sure." you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "Very murderous indeed." horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By reach." Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' events than those which have happened in my own family." truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "Yes, only one." intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would McCarthy's innocence. "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and where we are going." down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for third from London." I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the your troubles." of receipt of the work. expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of "Were they all fastened this morning?" "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and had a long day." every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely unkempt, staring out at me. main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice "What of the rat, then?" "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was people in all walks of life. crime." in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' writer." home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes presume?" than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "'Most admirably.' is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's shag which I had seen upon the previous night. provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right that, and I came down." American. Then who could this American be, and why should he "Tired-looking or fresh?" plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "Yes." Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, what these perils are?" and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "Yes, at the mines." vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that Eyford at 11:15.' away to you." great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "No legal papers or certificates?" them?" "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the call for it in person on Monday morning.' to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do here." and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that house for five minutes.' Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your than to us. straighten it?" recover the gem." "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying horse could go." not as remarkable as your advertisement." flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The who was a member of your goose club." "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at "It is half-past ten now." minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "It was an hour's good drive." investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was a very grave face. "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook already been minutely examined." Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, "By no means." rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up cigar and let me expound." again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "I am armed." it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid you came in." "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that the matter." "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key whatever might befall. the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that good-night and bustled off upon her way. Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "How do you know, then?" fishes. you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to hour." and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are characteristics, but those are the more obvious." Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost just called myself is not exactly my own." three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "Yes, sir." could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "Has he come with you to-night?" Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are suspect him." "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let "'Oh, no.' piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should presented more singular features than that which was associated It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. taking in every detail of the apartment. know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the giving me time to thank him. and have this put in the evening papers." the stable lane now." It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and business in the City. She little knew what. heavily into it. playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn which we had just quitted. like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when "Not particularly." this unhappy family?" "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been again before evening." the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a "In San Francisco, a year ago." reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "Yes, there are nearly always some there." occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. appeal." passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "My Mary? Impossible!" Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few call it cruel." remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to certainly not very gracious." thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might society." He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as chance at all." "Did you become engaged then?" About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it intrusion of other matters." pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "ARAT," I read. we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "You will not go there first?" more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She the coronet in his hands?" to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of woman who has had her own way to make in the world. While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who status with the IRS. "I am in hopes that she does." "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this from the brougham. received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. the coronet at all injured?" full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then taking in every detail of the apartment. "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there "What I expected to see." a very grave face. wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time be. drawing your inferences." which we had just quitted. scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "It is true that I have been generally successful." that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has have an American origin." "Dr. Becher's." fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly any." a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed and inquire as to the address." occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "'What, the red-headed man?' discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, this as likely?" and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need "Nothing." very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "None. Neville wrote those words." 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "That was it, sir." money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London affection." that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to locked." He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him me. man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come vault. "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "What office?" nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. were wasted." He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a comes from the middle window." tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which John Swain, of St. Augustine. however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be amused." has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met it. "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated other lovers by making love himself." "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing the warnings." probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "Very much so." found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. attention." "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest "Not particularly." Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "No, my brougham is waiting." through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long arms and began to sob in a high treble key. lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He