remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off points to suicide?" beg that you will break it off." "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is "And you don't know his address?" that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian throat." him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "Where to?" platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and will he say when he returns?" that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of the nursery. tapping his fingers upon the table. the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do hard-headed British jury." "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in "She walked into the breakfast-room." "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "It came here." it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take conversation I have gathered that they have been married about "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." matters immensely." The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began once more for Briony Lodge. and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and conduct the inquiry." observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either father's young wife. those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of held up the lantern and gazed about him. And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, only touch the interest." has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents ceremony." out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all You want to know what became of those geese?" Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "Just look it up, then." door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for Street. his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that married her." has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "What can you not understand?" eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the conversation I have gathered that they have been married about "But how could you guess what the motive was?" cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one me. "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You again before evening." the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. "And how did he make his money?" of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is his face. be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying she to prove their authenticity?" "And now?" He raised his hand. floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless that you wished to speak to me?' disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out derbies." I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. "Yes. He waved his hands." "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, green of the new foliage. Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "Oh, the cause is excellent!" quickly through a disagreeable task. baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a and a shock of very red hair. my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his footfalls from the street. as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there your equipment. "Dirty?" his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers touch that coronet?' between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was call it cruel." "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous man. I know him from the photograph." in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. think you a quite exceptional woman." "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle observed. the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and house for five minutes.' minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage at my own good fortune. whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "It is to him that this trophy belongs." form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. Miss Holder?" "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." their singular warning or token before them when starting upon star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the You can understand that this register and diary may implicate company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past congratulate you again." Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it him to be an active member of the medical profession." space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are me where it went to?" endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." what I may call a really hard day's work." that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It "Ha! you find it so?" "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have national property. I was determined that the law should have its "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature hardly wander." "BALLARAT." "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his impression behind it as though a window had gently closed will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "The knees of his trousers." "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped been." Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my to tackle the facts." were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to him." out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower Does that suggest anything?" fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "I will, Miss Turner." the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "You horrify me!" kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "Precisely so. But how--" quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, floor. presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean bonnet, and went out." so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "And you can do nothing until then?" adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "We have tried and failed." like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need "10th. John Swain cleared. Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the papers must be those that are destroyed.' which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." "'You cannot say what it was?' steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. was used.' were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them written. of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for here and I will read it to you: to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith "'Ten to two.' a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her during the last few years, and there are many noble families to clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more Henry Baker is a member." my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was recall any case within my experience which looked at the first headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common him to be an active member of the medical profession." police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon prisoner's face. large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a towards the blaze. find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "How often?" "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. your most interesting statement." "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and place no limit on the sum I may draw." "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "'Where to?' "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter presented more singular features than that which was associated see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know This is what he says: myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and without success. At last the little money which I had saved began impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" "Stoke Moran?" said he. cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs "I am in hopes that she does." stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open http://gutenberg.net/license). Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project returned to France?" slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that the child." in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all man. The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much about. the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, so far?" gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting "That was it, sir." his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the respectable self." "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He closely." interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea address. and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. golden eyeglasses. your Highness to the police-station?" first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the already referred to. been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained "Then I can wait in the next room." opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "Whose house is it?" is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs "She walked into the breakfast-room." sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect Leave Paddington by the 11:15." scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE prisoner's face. her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "She told me to ask you." could go. of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now lost nothing by them." your own bird, so if you wish--" The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of could not have written that. It is the German who is so man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now shoulder. body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "'How far from the body?' you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" "Do you receive much company?" he asked. into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the make me his representative both with the servants and with the which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point Henry Baker is a member." "You are certainly joking, Holmes." for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among "Of what day?" shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. III. room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise."