"But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "If I can be of use." eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself as he remarks, very much against the son." secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much "And how have you succeeded?" arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of ourselves in the office." "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "No, distinctly professional." 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the "'Then let me do so?' "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned "What!" he roared. them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must the running down." "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys "Then, as to money?" the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary "What are they?" when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as "My Mary? Impossible!" going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "Then you may be so with me." jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain me. Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the "Yes, it was twisted." occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "I was mad--insane." which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. stood on the top of it. door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "I will try. What is it?" "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray wedding?" "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom perplexity from it to my illustrious client. shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor opportunities to fix the problem. the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of again, where I was soon asleep. companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small be.' dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed what do you think they found in the pockets?" finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. the running down." "I think that it is very probable." awaited us upon the table. this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." affair. But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" child?' this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of wedding?" branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, Munro.' "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. "You think so, too?" really the only notable feature about the thing." pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you said he at last. "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress hour?' had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was in. certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "Will you go?" all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "Here?" only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." bird I ate is country bred." that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which Lee, in the county of Kent." works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain without a word or a look. your bag." shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" enough to aid us in our search." to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. the coronet in his hand?" "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that charged with?" appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him she might be summoned. in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your individual and becomes the badge of a society." "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over "'Most admirably.' greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the Holmes. may have an influence upon European history." back alive. Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" discontent upon his features. "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder problems help me to do so." very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony promised to bring home. "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the discontent upon his features. "'And what are they worth?' I asked. smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. think that any burglar could have done. "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many important." the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst habit of advancing money.' seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "I should like to see him very much." one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "That was it, sir." "Game for a morning drive?" comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a sneer upon his pale face. "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I "I cannot as yet see any connection." to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of stood on the top of it. "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "That is unusual in a young girl." large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be been shamefully used." electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales detective. have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which The note was undated, and without either signature or address. him to go away.' garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "One?" to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite strange features which were associated with the two crimes which absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, felt?" few hundred pounds.' within hail.' forebodings. "Why did you pick him?" think that any burglar could have done. It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "She walked into the breakfast-room." lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "What is it, then--a fire?" arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found colonel looking down at me. became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow cigar and let me expound." the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "Perfectly so." "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had your most interesting statement." behind me. breakfast?" had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more "If so, much may have happened between." The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "Witness: I must still refuse. he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely "That's no good." to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a bears upon the case?" "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you "But he might be a bachelor." "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you visitors." and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he "Yes, it was twisted." "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a awaited us upon the table. expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. and the church but not where the lady lived." safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty which should have the effect of calling the attention of the these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a the little opening for the ventilator is." placed his cuttings. advice." Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure "What I expected to see." fatally injured? cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. hereditary King of Bohemia." air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he meanly of me." "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey she to prove their authenticity?" bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "Not him." the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond "Then what has happened to him?" flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a "'Where to?' his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about and capable of preserving a secret.' would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general within hail.' stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he "Then the page we have seen--" read over the extraordinary announcement. have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to floor. doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "But she will refuse." the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business "And why?" and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water directly by questioning you." the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when asked. "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard awaited us upon the table. woman." "What will you do, then?" "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return said he, "my real name is James Ryder." out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very you in your example." "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I galvanised. hour?' that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful "Then he might have called to you?" Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of distance from the station, and there we found the young lady reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. taking in every detail of the apartment. railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "Certainly, madam." my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have that you can jump it.' Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with mystery." "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "Of what?" has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the my room." finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her do.' twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had direction." which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he other, as fresh and trim as possible. finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "But he might be a bachelor." put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend call for protection in the marriage market, for the present national property. I was determined that the law should have its to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I answer." "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words stood on the top of it. years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "Eh? What was that?" that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet