my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and "When did she vanish, then?" play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, off." light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be depend upon your compliance." The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in you." ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an "Seven!" I answered. drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds my secret was safe in his possession. wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I charged with?" for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; up this clue while it is still hot." you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general been with you?" accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how face and glided from the room. have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt soul! here is her carriage at the door." "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to open." "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is call for it in person on Monday morning.' which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at Where does the thing come from?' that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, The events in question occurred in the early days of my go back?" "In heaven's name, what for?" is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in prepare for the new role I have to play." know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, said he. clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, strong reason behind." "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and "We have tried and failed." you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always again." here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure my special province." to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some tell me that you intended to go into harness." "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah little trying to do so much typewriting?" words came to my lips. hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this "That is also quite modern," said the lady. hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. whole matter to your consideration." "Get out!" said he. minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with taking in every detail of the apartment. The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's happened." hereditary King of Bohemia." question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, address. your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this "Indeed! Whose, then?" again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very along the entire front of the house, with three long windows though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to The King stared at him in amazement. never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United and the whole place is in a blaze." imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." some terrible trap for her." "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" official police." some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has woman who has had her own way to make in the world. cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "I will not look." "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the strange features which were associated with the two crimes which I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "A confidential servant?" a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that and glanced through. narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "No, distinctly professional." "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "Yes." He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "In what way?" asked Holmes. air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to companion. "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." an introduction to him?" known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges "It may not come to that," said Holmes. out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate "That sounds a little paradoxical." opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "Yes, there are nearly always some there." read it out to me." "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off in darkness. learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would The summons was a brief and urgent one. moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving which I could not give. He asked for Alice. wanted for ourselves." merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "And I to find an enemy." By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen became a certainty. bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than "I think that it is very probable." country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." death." Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my "Indeed! Whose, then?" a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "It is true that I have been generally successful." idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his himself in a perplexing position. "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "Indeed! Whose, then?" age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out wedding?" "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. "Very much so." suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, "VIOLET HUNTER." "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It "'Never,' said I. "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, minor matters until to-morrow." the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" in the hope of finding them." "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." it were putty." "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "But who is he?" then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to "We must have a cab." he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in been." least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "Well." this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." the ceiling. true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "But his lameness?" "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the spark where all is dark to me." did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe and I shall be with you presently." cheerful." honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "The best possible." us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a results." with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met "One of his hands." had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "Yes?" of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking row." for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with American. Then who could this American be, and why should he thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "Where is it, then?" had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up of campaign. a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, little trying to do so much typewriting?" that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the test if we have an answer to our advertisement." reach." Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. my secret was safe in his possession. have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, should be taken.' outbreak?" call for protection in the marriage market, for the present Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban and looked back. wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could the morning and make my own way in the world.' "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." said he. he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the Stoke Moran." Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San "But how?" Eyford." These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': fact, we may call it conclusive." saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in from you?" was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time is worth.' The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do http://gutenberg.net/license). that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." himself to hunt down. "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "Yes, sir." "Now, then, what's the last entry?" by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a companion quietly. would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be him to be an active member of the medical profession." and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this "Yes." in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was "Dark enough and sinister enough." daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "And how did you verify them?" good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." gbnewby@pglaf.org about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "Why, it's a dummy," said he. he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. "So I heard. You have him here?" "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I "What of the rat, then?" "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell depend upon your compliance." and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll his knees, staring into the fire. "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up way: see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, room had already been engaged for us. Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what habit of advancing money.' there." explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. business at Coburg Square is serious." "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "What I expected to see." Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer lumber-room." cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "My own seal."