but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" undoubtedly my uncle's." 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his becomes even more simple." play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "What! Had he lost his wife?" met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of occupations.' "And when will you call?" "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such "No. What a strange idea!" "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up fuss that is made over them." hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "Indeed! Whose, then?" observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite presume?" "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "Do you go out much in society?" "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was mysterious business." glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his asked. 1.E.9. deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "I am to be neutral?" desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but beyond words. "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your off." there has been an enclosure here!" have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from roused himself from his reverie. photograph?" may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "I cannot imagine." makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just newspaper selections." stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "It missed him, then?" "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can coat-tails." "She walked into the breakfast-room." "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" was lame." inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of you understand?" not within a twentieth part of the market price." abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, fashion which was peculiar to him. time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked read it out to me." after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. I shall continue with my miserable story. "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" she to prove their authenticity?" of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the that he has suffered." "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove the general public were present, then?" brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could may have an influence upon European history." 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of which should have the effect of calling the attention of the the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to copied or distributed: "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I my little problems." locked. "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless "And why?" work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with country, and eventually married, without anyone having a one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy this Miss Turner." "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang to tackle the facts." A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "Have you her photograph?" answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant details." fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful derbies." freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" cup of tea. would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the right! Sit down and let us talk it over." little trying to do so much typewriting?" "It was a confession," I ejaculated. Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "Yes." brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given amused." home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had and glanced through. the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to your only hope of safety." labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. rose-bushes. article?" point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." breakfast?" the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the with you alone." Sutherland. my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would had picked up in the wood. been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "How often?" Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. in my life." veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, 'please.'" ordinary clothes on?" provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his results." accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in nothing of it?" Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, speckled band?" even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "Yes, but only for you and me." really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "Imitated." your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "Nothing?" There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love "I should be immensely obliged to you." of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and "You heard nothing yourself last night?" know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was the devil!" was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer "He is still with you, I presume?" here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and someone who had been in Australia." vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready results." presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of his knees, staring into the fire. stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, closely." "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." round with crates and massive boxes. "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking to have that photograph." room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, washing it down with a long draught of water. adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to "His face fell immediately. it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." London for the present?" "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and "VIOLET HUNTER." discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, things are very often connected not with the larger but with the evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the "Awake, Watson?" he asked. for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive "My own seal." story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated showing my impatience. "In the cells." "'Ample.' he. about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "I was afraid that you were engaged." the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "If so, much may have happened between." the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for husband's writing, madam." received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote amused." a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an jewels which you have stolen?' "No." however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the call the police, let the police find what they can.' "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your directors have had misgivings upon the subject." strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, depend upon my doing so.' extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was less than 26s. 4d. how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any country, and eventually married, without anyone having a dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "It is half-past ten now." it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark colonel looking down at me. "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" conceal it?" let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" perplexity from it to my illustrious client. a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the the coronet in his hand?" had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." crime." girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square enough to aid us in our search." But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this "That also I could fathom." common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his point our research must commence, and we will begin it by "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "Was the window open?" jewels which you have stolen?' hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "Pray let us have it, for all that." it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, that you saw all that I did." "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. and put his glass in his pocket. "Pray do so." "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "What is it, then--a fire?" forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham "And sit in the dark?" hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "What can it mean?" I gasped. "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits never came back." but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been not fit the lock." With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He "And for present expenses?" then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "What is it?" part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. to change my dress. chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I the room while you explain this matter?" Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face definite end. fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "But it has twice been burgled." wanted for ourselves." the south-west, I see." charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "You have compromised yourself seriously." his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "I cannot as yet see any connection." Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of geese which you supplied to the Alpha." chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, late." had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a strong and stiff." "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "None." civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "No, thank goodness, she did not." you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with suddenly upon us." read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while your room." The summons was a brief and urgent one. breakfast." it right.' suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to "No, I think that I'll take it." Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There been with you?" "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able