present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with "One of the highest in England." I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to "And help." 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I that which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money sake, don't!" girl said." "Why did you beat the pavement?" to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "'Stolen!' he cried. back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "The knees of his trousers." with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." "'No, I know no one in these parts.' round with crates and massive boxes. "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the "'Yes, sir.' "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. place of silver." labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" our word." from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is narrative." more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "'Yes, it was gone.' inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "How many? I don't know." and a shock of very red hair. lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "But how?" VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE of the efforts of the United States government and of the better on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must bonnet, and went out." refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my sit on the left-hand side of the driver." shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the lamp in his hand. The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The the inner apartment." have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "Then, as to money?" if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided the dangers which encompass me." Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat "By train from Waterloo." "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. was a lad." if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and "I promise," said Holmes. "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such that I am arrested." retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to narrative." very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "No, I think that I'll take it." governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and you understand?" home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near residence of the great financier. swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was "She showed me, as I told you she would." some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the For additional contact information: "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "Who was the criminal, then?" "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. and the church but not where the lady lived." "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I away into the river." official police." slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the of this gang." "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried in darkness. of." conclusions. "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "Yes." "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "In heaven's name, what for?" without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. not as remarkable as your advertisement." used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and "Has he come with you to-night?" sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and call for it in person on Monday morning.' he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I "That is not always so easy." "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "She showed me, as I told you she would." bill, which interests me deeply." of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest a monotonous occupation." mysterious business." laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be his cane at the bell-pull. "One of the highest in England." sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting "Was there a secret marriage?" time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first house for five minutes.' my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' fatally injured? information in his hands the value of which he did not himself questionable one." "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I this truth that in these little records of our cases which you visitors." a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will crackling voice. stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and with her." "'Never.' consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter and put his glass in his pocket. "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "The Coroner: What do you mean? explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He to go into your room and bar your shutters?" a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "I have solved it." an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a go back?" a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the http://www.gutenberg.net drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before charge against him will break down." by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew as he remarks, very much against the son." drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "Which surely he restored to their owner?" this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "And you thought he was pulled back?" "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "I cannot imagine." here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon enter into my head. business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: "And I." nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce "But how will you look?" providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "Did he not advertise?" where she found matters as described by the last witness. purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" what these perils are?" said he at last. 1.F. "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, you want, then?' ran thus: reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but charged with?" the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "Come in!" said he. A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is spare." "But what harm can there be in that?" arms and began to sob in a high treble key. anything to do with the matter?" would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just shall not find me ungrateful." the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt was lame." "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical money should be paid at once.' "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a "And I say east," said my patient. the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I so.' and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some opportunities to fix the problem. his fortune, and I went back to pa. cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, 11:15.' rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed definite end. "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "Certainly." value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I occurred." course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me it right.' very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a the bottom.' my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no away into the river." It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. one which it was hard to resist. to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both interested in these little problems, and since you are good that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what Gutenberg-tm License. the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my detective. description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution I shall communicate with you." his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in your Highness to the police-station?" least a most suspicious remark." loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce License. You must require such a user to return or condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be Serpentine Avenue. police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the of receipt of the work. reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "Well?" where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the companion imperturbably. expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every that the gas is not laid on in his house?" I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small nice household for a young lady." "And I to find an enemy." had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed gigantic client. very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would and no precautions can guard against." brandy and water within his reach. "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with God! What an exposure! What can I do?" "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." said he, "my real name is James Ryder." on re-entering her father's house?" idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the "No." air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. there!' "'What would be the hours?' I asked. "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. "We were both in the photograph." down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, this poor creature." "My dear Holmes!" the house with me." vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. outside. offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "Yes." the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As telegram would bring me down to your help." her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable south, for the country is more deserted there." "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. in his power. some place of shelter and let the county police know what has the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much before, for it was considerably after midnight. dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley that before taking the final step I should like to submit the grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it the matter?" at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my round with crates and massive boxes. "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's some place of shelter and let the county police know what has while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this in the hope of finding them." one or two very singular points about this room. For example, the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back at a side door. of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. the tragedy. conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I whether it answered to the description of any of their coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an "The rest you will leave in our hands." gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and "Certainly." and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather