worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be girl said." "No." them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still gives a meaning to it." said I. "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some my former friend and companion. breakfast." defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." breakfast." drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his derbies." The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of said I. "I should wish to." The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his skylight. peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, possible that we could bring him back to her? They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't case before our client came into the room." the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's instituted." harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set weapon." fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson me upon any point which I do not make clear." of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and "I should wish to." put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "I am all attention, madam." "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that help us in this matter." down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "My dear Holmes!" "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I read it out to me." sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are enter Dr. Roylott's room." any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving to-night?" I asked. clanging. suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must But Holmes shook his head gravely. "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "You will not go there first?" man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his despaired of." himself to hunt down. be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael formed some opinion?" face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he your only hope of safety." least a most suspicious remark." summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was the roots. INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present other lovers by making love himself." strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle congenial hunt. which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "Then I am your man." attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" again on its way. us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "'And what salary do you ask?' finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain disappearance of these gems?" vanished into the darkness. little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has nothing of it?" "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and certainly not very gracious." "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, ourselves in the office." Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs I shall communicate with you." endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "My Mary? Impossible!" were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able details should find their way into the papers. Inspector you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three in one or two places in England?' past. to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little "When did she vanish, then?" "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, His name is Francis Prosper." silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "Will you go?" "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that "You are hungry," I remarked. and a shock of very red hair. "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, have not had my rubber." understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do criminal. We have already had experience of such." lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "Deserted you?" "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is "Yes." a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations "You have a clue?" me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you bore every mark of being an average commonplace British it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though "'About the same.' would then never go into court at all." and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be straightened it out again. or in danger--" "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a before, for it was considerably after midnight. specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land best detective that ever lived. we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the society." over his head with a sweet womanly caress. other lovers by making love himself." corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "And why?" "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time it." air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it learned something! Where are the gems?" Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, "One of his hands." small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and giving me time to thank him. on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "Then, how do you know?" seem to you to be relevant or not." circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin chill to my heart. unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." coat-tails." there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "You think so, too?" of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be see a sister of mine apply for." the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all opportunities to fix the problem. "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "That also I could fathom." France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." outsides of the windows. room had already been engaged for us. "I don't believe it." doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she in this note: "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be hour." "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. to affect your life." "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps walking." "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "It is possible." "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was may never be exposed to such a temptation." have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." searched, without anything being found which could incriminate we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a foresight and the moral retrogression?" Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "Yes, sir." thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it held up the lantern and gazed about him. and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." place no limit on the sum I may draw." not, dad?" she asked. "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." may have an influence upon European history." "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "The murder was done with it." would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "It is very kind of you." and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," taking in every detail of the apartment. as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "Nothing." "His face fell immediately. classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year have got?" morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of yet." the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw forecastle of an emigrant ship. tell them apart.' it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was open." husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. this unhappy family?" "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in question," said Holmes, smiling. "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, relief. station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of questioning and rather startled gaze. "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, "I will get her to show me." want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very a monotonous occupation." husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his singular points about the case. What did the police think of the "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." "And now?" I asked. for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "That was it, sir." lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something Pope's Court. "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really know what is wrong with it.' "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must wall." "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" noble correspondent could be. green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His careless servant girl?" with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his breakfast?" story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "Have you her photograph?" dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "Indeed! Whose, then?" unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his The summons was a brief and urgent one. the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was could not have written that. It is the German who is so "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "It is to him that this trophy belongs." and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "How on earth--" broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. returning from some small jollification and was making his way face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters quickly through a disagreeable task. me. You must get home instantly and act." "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and to have been novel and of interest." "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at interested in these little problems, and since you are good If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure brain must have something in it." "Was your sister dressed?" drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "I fear not." train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the Leave Paddington by the 11:15." such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "Just look it up, then." could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at envelope. the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive the coroner come to?" "If I can be of use." hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "You have a clue?" swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down persecution?" "An accident, I presume?" his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "That is not always so easy." doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "Did he not advertise?" them present such singular features as the strange train of country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." "What have you to say now?" with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "And who is this Captain Calhoun?"