imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' Serpentine Avenue. aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he public press." hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, himself in a perplexing position. are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project what is your own theory as to what took place?" entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this "It goes to the housekeeper's room." dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events morning." call it cruel." "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's http://gutenberg.net/license). freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at strength of mind to control. the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has details should find their way into the papers. Inspector other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high village inn over there?" been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick been." seem to you to be relevant or not." imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "About a month then." back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old train.' "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "It's nothing of the kind." house for five minutes.' the window, rose as we entered. asked with his eyes open. threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a politicians who had been sent down from the North. "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, asked with his eyes open. here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the other lovers by making love himself." perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "I would give my fortune to have them back." steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. if only as a check to my own memory." "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or "Then I shall certainly come." deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry License. You must require such a user to return or the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the burst into a hearty fit of laughter. "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" Sholtos." "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "My Mary? Impossible!" I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or him to go away.' for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he "I cannot say that I have." "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be south, for the country is more deserted there." would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt she has been waylaid. There has been no result." Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. furiously. "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. "My own seal." was lame." impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a death." where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, we went to search for him, face downward in a little "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced the night.' entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "And from a noble client?" slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of situation." Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. hurried away. The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire written, and locked the door of the office after me. me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because made him keep the appointment." It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which "'As governess?' which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "I have seen the police." frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "And you can do nothing until then?" "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "In what way?" asked Holmes. the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him is," said he presently: reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': is now desirous of getting those letters back." from the brougham. style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "I do." is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen and glanced through. British peeress.'" turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which people in all walks of life. "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to would then never go into court at all." "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "None." your only hope of safety." hopeless attempt at recovering them." suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "And for present expenses?" "I have a cab outside." "'Ten to two.' "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. had picked up in the wood. heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington the general public were present, then?" managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the have I gained?" me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in started for the Temple to see my husband. Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked questioning and rather startled gaze. think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned "Pray let us have it, for all that." or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do fear." nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made as he remarks, very much against the son." the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to "The gentleman I describe." "'No, I know no one in these parts.' scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." "Nearly eleven." impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "And why?" one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the the loss of it. suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I throat." because she had spent so short a time in this country that she to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." woman who has had her own way to make in the world. screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, "His face fell immediately. "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in "That is possible." grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "Witness: It was. five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you lectures into a series of tales." "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my that I may have something better before very many minutes are practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many have one." union?" "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then geese which you supplied to the Alpha." "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the States. him to be an active member of the medical profession." "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and three fields round his house, and there he would take his is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should "You have compromised yourself seriously." She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill it with his own hands." said Mr. Holder. time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "Ah!" succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all "I fear not." "'What would be the hours?' I asked. certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a handed it to him. by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he drawing your inferences." than was visible to me." during the last few years, and there are many noble families to importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said ago." may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time when you have done it." were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were it means?" all-comprehensive glances. Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "Then I do not see the point." other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion would then never go into court at all." way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that been anything against him. He had for years been known as a to Leatherhead. "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her read over the extraordinary announcement. know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which in my life." premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of the one as in the other." "Not I." "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in depend upon my doing so.' which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was forebodings. more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now "Nor running a chance of arrest?" tassel actually lying upon the pillow. Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court "Yes." mysterious end." "What do you mean?" McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have down. "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "'Ten to two.' to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from "In the cells." in this note: grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true considering the formidable letters which were received by himself his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in detained." shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "And now?" I asked. consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" business came to an end." down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is "You are hungry," I remarked. "Yes, they were peculiar boots." took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once to-night." muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the in this way: "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the guilty one." quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "The gentleman I describe." wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "'Ample.' could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when gone. I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to presented more singular features than that which was associated "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one said I. and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do "The Coroner: What do you mean? on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "'And what salary do you ask?' feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church evidence," I remarked. "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and said he. at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged think, you have already met." "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the Mary, has deserted me." foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very business in the City. She little knew what. to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little enter into my head. It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "What then?" clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and the devil!" Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "My photograph." concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my gone. One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of indiscretion." man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would "Yes, it would be as well." years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who "I shall most certainly do so." old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as may have an influence upon European history." and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "There are none." railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect "Do you know him?"