With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug three of the beryls in it, was missing. since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for heavily into it. no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than room. prepare for the new role I have to play." There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and signal between you and your father? he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my Holmes." noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the already referred to. presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, the coroner come to?" Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. evidence," I remarked. travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. so far?" going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that once more. be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms cup of tea. success. bird I ate is country bred." colonel looking down at me. yards of it?' band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the and shall probably return to London by the evening train." the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. "What!" he roared. "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already said I. there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed colonel looking down at me. a very grave face. owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying as this. Pray let me have the details." sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to distinguish the words: "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that affair. His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to Farm upon the left." how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the http://gutenberg.net/license). stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "From his hat?" "Married! When?" "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, "It is very kind of you." ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining "'Most admirably.' written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "You saw the ventilator, too?" problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window the house with me." in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of mystery may be cleared along those lines." buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, conduct the inquiry." "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said had picked up in the wood. depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and look upon these things in a different way." hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "He might." mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "'It is locked up,' I answered. affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to the window, rose as we entered. But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back might help us?" stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" walking." the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he one or two very singular points about this room. For example, am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid the stable lane now." "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I entirely devoid of interest." such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney families. Now for the facts. the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it fat-encircled eyes. from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have closely." find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that key of the affair now." its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, past. his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me excitement. "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "Where did you address your letters, then?" they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my appointment with me for six o'clock?" hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that anything to a woman, for she would have her way." layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, the inquest, and which are worth considering." "How many? I don't know." next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "Breckinridge is his name." who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "'Quite sure, dad.' "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, detective. "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on "What! Had he lost his wife?" Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands fluttered off among the others. there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates round and wave him away like that.' "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what man. I know him from the photograph." "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' sound at heart." James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his national property. I was determined that the law should have its violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." to his chemical studies. she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. all that?" trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton without a word or a look. description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each records." bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, voice. while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their it." kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he bachelor.' say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled next day. the house with me." d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very if only as a check to my own memory." I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "I will not look." "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE triumphant cloud from his cigarette. landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the "'Quite sure, dad.' The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to "Yes, but only for you and me." "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "And you thought he was pulled back?" cigars in the box." with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid October 9, 1890. flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and business." man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "Well, but China?" helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" and it need not interfere very much with one's other waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "In San Francisco, a year ago." Mary, has deserted me." be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider man. a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" ashen face. remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some you came in." I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." stammered. states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I the running down." here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out you." impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the very old mansion. "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "This photograph!" "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have might help us?" "What of the rat, then?" very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took "Yes, sir." refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may to a more successful conclusion." silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a of them has the shutters up.' air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the your sleep?' "Upon what point?" examination of the premises, but without finding anything which jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly IS building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and down. "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." indeed which he could not unravel. there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my said Mr. Holder. And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the certainly not very gracious." THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you intrusion of other matters." "Yes." "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "And it is--" Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my depend upon your compliance." himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "Yes, it was twisted." shoulder; "he's all right." problems help me to do so." "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes one of the states of the Union." "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young knowledge of the world." pierced for earrings?" isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "What office?" "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It Holmes' thin, eager face. you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." "He is dead," cried several voices. comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an writing, and yet I know it well." "What then?" crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your thirty. "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of which was all perfectly true. were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a happened." "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going during which he might have communicated with his friend the and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he are, and they are waiting for us." As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I envelope. I am not easy in my mind about them." attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would cigars in their mouths. half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive heavy and sharp instrument." enter into my head. credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "I see many objections to any such theory." "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "Pray do so." the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still Sutherland. suggested at once that there must be a communication between the about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable "What will you do, then?" out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told way in." named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I purpose of examination. several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had along the entire front of the house, with three long windows behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and was keenly on my guard against him. "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup thought that she would have been so carried away." "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge speckled band?" little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" "Absolutely none." are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I