direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too October 9, 1890. that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "Then what has happened to him?" stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in pictures, libraries, or plate. month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the matter over." "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should wanted for ourselves." glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. "My last client of the sort was a king." the matter?" tapping his fingers upon the table. the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked passage and a tap at the door. glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with God! What an exposure! What can I do?" explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without outbreak?" away into the river." sooner or later she must fall a victim. dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" "I saw her in conversation with her maid." to surprise her." him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "My dear Holmes!" It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I "Then you may be so with me." occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are The King stared at him in amazement. me. You must get home instantly and act." astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "None." he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an already referred to. lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "'Which dealer's?' with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a you do it in twenty minutes!' annoyance, but no jest. "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were lids now and glanced across at his visitor. husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his "She will not sell." disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "Yes." into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I sparkled upon his finger. there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "We must sit without light. He would see it through the with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution Count Von Kramm." standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, sneer upon his pale face. Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out "The landlord of the Alpha." He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and or other trace. But how on earth--" some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I "But we can't all be." rat could hardly pass through." circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "On Monday." mysterious end." you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which if I call to-morrow?" whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest "You horrify me!" "Ten will be early enough." glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has unprofitable." once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away a room. chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to States. "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what said he. disappearance of the bride.'" half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and he. These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. sentimental considerations in the background which would induce shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my "Very much so." believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest for the market.' "That is possible." so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a evidence," I remarked. "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I just called myself is not exactly my own." into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would side. "I say it is." "One of the highest in England." must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers of the vacancies.' broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came hands. this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a ourselves in the office." power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, province." Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his correct than the official force." about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' recall any case within my experience which looked at the first go from here to the Strand." of note-paper. It read in this fashion: relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your over with notes and figures. he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California sparkled upon his finger. moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "Well." happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried bed dies. Does not that strike you?" There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, just called myself is not exactly my own." "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "That also I could fathom." Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "Then, how do you know?" lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the to have been novel and of interest." saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from "And did you observe any change in her then?" "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you make me his representative both with the servants and with the though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "I cannot tell." Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when carpenter." him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand we went to search for him, face downward in a little erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of works. comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. fasten all the windows?" that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are and inquire as to the address." "A confidential servant?" I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal it." "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "It is very kind of you." despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered disturbance in my wife." quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "Of Friday, June 19th." clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce conceal it?" "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from "It was." "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "Was she in good spirits?" me." "It must be recovered." laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "Ah!" "What! You do not mean bodies?" "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other "I have seen the police." and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a business." "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and Countess of Morcar's?" reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small and no precautions can guard against." seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, second window is the one that I jumped from." "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, house for five minutes.' with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is call the police, let the police find what they can.' my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "It came here." "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had and have this put in the evening papers." "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I rat could hardly pass through." before the coroner and the police-court." "The King of Scandinavia." she slowly sank and died without having recovered her had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be the nursery. George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, throat." the inquest, and which are worth considering." Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since "Then you may be so with me." that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are late." The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a lumber-room." although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's the Red-headed League." correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your lamp in his hand. "It's nothing of the kind." most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but voice, changing her seat as requested. up this clue while it is still hot." Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the it." smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. "Yes." that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said "But I have heard all that you have heard." of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be crowd. in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, I have it here in my museum." difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "You are hungry," I remarked. the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some was it brought him the coronet? in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered one's self under obligations.' course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been these bleak autumnal evenings." Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite "Not in a good cause." indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." enter into my head. and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are companion quietly. "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the man. part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something go from here to the Strand." the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the astonishment. by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the His name is Francis Prosper." INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "Never." "Has he come with you to-night?" surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." Does that suggest anything?" "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I the nursery. The note was undated, and without either signature or address. have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all one of them." evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they acted in my house last night?" "A confidential servant?" never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "And I." dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean