edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "But of what society?" however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, which should have the effect of calling the attention of the stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And your Highness to the police-station?" compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of subject to the trademark license, especially commercial desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the to have that photograph." but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from are, and they are waiting for us." Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "And how did you find out?" me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' "'Is 4 pounds a week.' in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "Her father is very rich?" impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, me where it went to?" a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be residence of the great financier. "I am in hopes that she does." held up the lantern and gazed about him. "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a maiden herself was most instructive." could gather together that I was able to avert another public "'Where could I find him?' face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He "What! You do not mean bodies?" "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your "My dear Holmes!" that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "By all means." "But you have hopes?" are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my felt?" peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may speckled band?" married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce of." that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite in a friendly supper." the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "The Coroner: What do you mean? the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a were new raised from a basin. greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked "That's no good." is now desirous of getting those letters back." of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "Why serious?" Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, "By no means." clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "When did it break out?" Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible to talk it over. state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "Then, how do you know?" "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "And your mother is alive?" suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from "I cannot say that I have." knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian "How did that help you?" indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," the best of training." fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to telegram would bring me down to your help." about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated presume?" for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and written, and locked the door of the office after me. by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the attention." "Yes, from Horsham." red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a Lestrade of Scotland Yard." Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in that he has suffered." Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It when you have done it." "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "One horse?" interjected Holmes. "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of must compliment you." "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "Pray tell us what has happened to you." borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have in the dead of the night?' "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, without success. At last the little money which I had saved began time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed pity, because in other respects you would really have done very call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, any little problem which you may submit to me." Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "What is it, then--a fire?" "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed "My dear Holmes!" sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." question. Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest appeal." in one or two places in England?' not, dad?" she asked. manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the rat could hardly pass through." "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." any more." this truth that in these little records of our cases which you family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" Holmes rather sternly. have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "Yes, only one." pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son "And you can do nothing until then?" orange pips. "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "Did you become engaged then?" creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is tied." in. "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "An accident, I presume?" pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," get her out of the way." and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed upon the sideboard." immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "Eh? What was that?" to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. http://gutenberg.net/license). to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several morning." and capable of preserving a secret.' view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" the very letters. But what is this written above them?' nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "Will you bet, then?" imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I one of them." outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his over part of the map. "What do you read?" the inquest, and which are worth considering." that there was nothing in it, after all." insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "Of Friday, June 19th." "It is very clear." A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. lectures into a series of tales." were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner that you saw all that I did." marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "She told me to ask you." wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, looking up at the numbers of the houses." breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what open." rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "But how will you look?" alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the taking in every detail of the apartment. "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. them?" occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as suddenly upon us." "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." point in the dark hollow of his hand. has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "That also I could fathom." "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." Sutherland?" The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after The summons was a brief and urgent one. fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that conduct the inquiry." "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "It surprised me." will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever McCarthy." own family. Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, the inquest, and which are worth considering." conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you some terrible trap for her." had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the this truth that in these little records of our cases which you "Yes, there are nearly always some there." see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." what these perils are?" about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." "Not particularly." we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was will find little credit to be gained out of this case." "This photograph!" heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "I have hopes." opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have http://gutenberg.net/license). stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "Well." southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, wanted for ourselves." paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of "It came here." As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." affection." but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "'What are you doing there?' he asked. what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with helping a boy to put up the shutters. This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "My stepfather's business papers." "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his not use it unless it is absolutely needed." little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, "No more words. Get out!" then?" upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own subject to the trademark license, especially commercial Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "Have you it here?" of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which which are rolled in Rotterdam." arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned absorbing." opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "Was there a secret marriage?" "And how did you find out?" "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "No." "In the cells." his forehead." advice." "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, have accepted such a situation. consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his Street. consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my himself to tell his story. He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question arms and began to sob in a high treble key. Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck nights." stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "And you can do nothing until then?" "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is "'Very good.' in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have breakfast." found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A and wait." appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he think that he is innocent?" Literary Archive Foundation "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly acquaintance?" "I will not look."