"Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to stalked out of the room. building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" October 9, 1890. "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "You are all wrong." Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in was it brought him the coronet? "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, "Of Friday, June 19th." justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. fire. You quite follow me?" "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "Dr. Becher's." therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up "Perhaps I have." "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' you." "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, promised to bring home. I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at help us in this matter." heavily into it. I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "A call for help, you thought?" pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. "It must be recovered." loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident do.' shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or golden eyeglasses. superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our I held the little printed slip to the light. During two years I have had three consultations and one small "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these at a side door. "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before breakfast?" you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked 1.E.9. over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the meant." I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She quickly through a disagreeable task. "You are all wrong." he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. "Not him." the window, rose as we entered. to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips six. Come in!" our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well prepare for the new role I have to play." "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "I assure you that I am in your hands." sufficient punishment." "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your distinguish the words: "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an article?" Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he the coronet in his hand?" showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by train.' standing smiling on the door-step. sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "But how?" "'Why that?' I asks. place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, "But what harm can there be in that?" Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the letters?" his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his character. "That is not always so easy." and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and the night.' "'Is 4 pounds a week.' some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a interested in these little problems, and since you are good possible that we could bring him back to her? statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down This is what he says: the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "Witness: It was. feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, next day. dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic confronted him. digesting their breakfasts at home." London for the present?" round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose again before evening." the one as in the other." Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and Mary, has deserted me." death." "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful amused." yards of it?' returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled 1.F. For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face kindly on the shoulder. the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about rat could hardly pass through." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "'Why that?' I asks. "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of despair." figure." father's place of business?" return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. open." records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, "Then I am your man." settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which "And Miss Sutherland?" We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." question you as to those details which seem to me to be most "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "'I am sure if I had known--' places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' guilty one." "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "The gentleman I describe." convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not seem to you to be relevant or not." was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no "Where, then, is my wife?" stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in a suggestive one." question. vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." the coronet in his hand?" "I was mad--insane." which we had just quitted. revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake "'Quite sure, dad.' matters immensely." where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with quickly through a disagreeable task. arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the God! What an exposure! What can I do?" clanging. arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal "No, I had a dozen." 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and relation between them, and what the object of his repeated stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw "Was he the only applicant?" and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special and files of the old papers, following the future career of every "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he burst out into a roar of laughter. "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones paper in the air. I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair sooner or later she must fall a victim. one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time fat-encircled eyes. offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and village inn over there?" relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was people don't know." instincts rose up against that laugh. "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch leave you to your papers for a little." "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My hereditary King of Bohemia." "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there "Do you receive much company?" he asked. remarked. "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he were wasted." unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite never will be, entirely cleared up. "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were "And how have you succeeded?" platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never all-comprehensive glances. this as likely?" pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, Holmes. since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that despaired of." "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss "No legal papers or certificates?" clanging. which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "Bought." "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, the matter." only touch the interest." so far?" "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at that there was nothing in it, after all." the little opening for the ventilator is." friend's singular character. was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock "'Why that?' I asks. which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "Yes." the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at stepfather?" consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "What, then, did Peterson do?" "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, advice." "Nothing." in his power. "Precisely so. But how--" "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" will he say when he returns?" had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he been anything against him. He had for years been known as a use an arc-and-compass breastpin." wife's character?" feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "Bought." his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of morning." "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should ways including including checks, online payments and credit card unprecedented a position." the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free note?" fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever and glanced through. "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "How did that help you?" you give your casting vote to?" them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "By all means." and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on villagers almost as much as their master. the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of closing the door. one's self under obligations.' reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." and your relations to her." "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, highroad, where all traces were lost. "In the cells." hereditary King of Bohemia." hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric strength of mind to control. "'Not at all. I only doubt--' considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. intimate personal affairs in this public manner." statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a do." confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "I cannot imagine." year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really signal between you and your father? "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "It looks newer than the other things?" of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met "Yes, all." "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. This is what he says: dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached correct than the official force." I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. persecution?" "Texas, I think." the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. before the coroner and the police-court." and files of the old papers, following the future career of every "And you can do nothing until then?" "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter chemical work which was so dear to him. "Seven!" I answered. sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front