"You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard ways of our fellow-men." reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good you." closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "'You doubt its value?' he asked. Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is "'Certainly not.' Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded dates and names. "Certainly, madam." "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned time." The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "Can I be of assistance?" He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's get her out of the way." very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark from the brougham. again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his "That is unusual in a young girl." own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence situation." rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so he. money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in mysterious business." I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it chambers. "Pray be precise as to details," said he. safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical some terrible trap for her." what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "The gentleman I describe." you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here speckled band?" enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "And you can do nothing until then?" Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had or other trace. But how on earth--" will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, and the church but not where the lady lived." "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "He said that you could solve anything." now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other "Very truly yours, "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and because she had spent so short a time in this country that she turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a The summons was a brief and urgent one. Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." and a shock of very red hair. have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as tell him that I know him to be innocent." friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." again." There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if families. Now for the facts. seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter Street. girl said." several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than your bag." caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the opportunities to fix the problem. making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of a good hundred miles off by now." The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble thin legs towards the fire. to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of where she found matters as described by the last witness. house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there became a certainty. and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room http://www.gutenberg.net Foundation chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of him to go away.' letters?" had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" him." was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "How can you tell that?" "Then how many are there?" destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. his knees, staring into the fire. and put his glass in his pocket. river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had third from London." and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, Arthur Conan Doyle "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I the morning and make my own way in the world.' that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage morning." you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three husband's writing, madam." there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father triumphant cloud from his cigarette. difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were "To an English lawyer named Norton." see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "That's no good." "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you ourselves in the office." all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord again on its way. lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own went to the Alpha were town bred." fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade once more. could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House "Yes." upon the white wrist. "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "She showed me, as I told you she would." in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us married her." you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing "Quite so." Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a despair." affection." the inquest, and which are worth considering." "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the Again Holmes raved in the air. snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with "It is possible." evidence," I remarked. When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the them present such singular features as the strange train of open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic where we are going." without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so with some details as to your case." fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, approach us with offers to donate. "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up recover the gem." but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." as he folded up the epistle. finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One second." "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I do.' friends, not even his own brother. "No, finished." clanging. beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott father's young wife. when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He kindly on the shoulder. "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and to change my dress. "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was "Of what day?" silent! Oh, he will be silent!' lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off vanished into the darkness. hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "My stepfather's business papers." box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" and capable of preserving a secret.' of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea that I am arrested." get her out of the way." evidence," I remarked. and wait." dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. nice household for a young lady." terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been dear old homesteads?" "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, passage and a tap at the door. "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the feature." upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to The police have openly confessed that they can at present make several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the "Where to?" "'Is 4 pounds a week.' The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable shag which I had seen upon the previous night. his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped villagers almost as much as their master. 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive narrative." Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was "And what did you see?" said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their "Quite so. She has her freedom." in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "You think so, too?" "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his I nodded to show that I had heard. suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, few hundred pounds.' are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and some water from a caraffe. "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. from you?" you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a subject to the trademark license, especially commercial to have been novel and of interest." "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not this unhappy family?" nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? emerged. thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as the roots. stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It October 9, 1890. learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed there is a decided draught." the very morning of the wedding." peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the sparkled upon his finger. "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there showing my impatience. remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has the very letters. But what is this written above them?' thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a for its centre. moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not man. retorted upon me, and I on you." helping a boy to put up the shutters. with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." imbecility!" he cried. "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "Then I am your man." means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might all-comprehensive glances. fluttered off among the others. standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of "Did you become engaged then?" willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind "In which, sir?" "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, then?" I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never "Certainly." The summons was a brief and urgent one. going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I "I shall be delighted." on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His his grey eyes. "'Not at all. I only doubt--' and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of Holmes' thin, eager face. doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "Look there!" said he. freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "You think that he is dead?" overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for questionable one." "I will do it." my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That