"Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "Of what?" never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, on re-entering her father's house?" consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the look dissatisfied." tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper his huge brown hands. take the flies, but not before." with some details as to your case." "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now "The Coroner: What do you mean? We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, stammered. had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "No good news?" side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very crackling voice. second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE that, and I came down." future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the delirious. these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK official police." congenial hunt. wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "But his left-handedness." "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from to go into your room and bar your shutters?" dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. arrested. You then--" companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would I shall continue with my miserable story. seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "And now?" I asked. (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the tell them apart.' but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." noble correspondent could be. reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can in this note: submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep written, and locked the door of the office after me. been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important that there was nothing in it, after all." save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "One of his hands." cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it through." already referred to. opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "This photograph!" be sorry for having acted so harshly." the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but corner of the building. examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "If so, much may have happened between." reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil acted in my house last night?" from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "And that is--" no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to upon a handsome competence. dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase "I will get her to show me." awkward doing business with an alias." presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of "Yes, it was twisted." elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. once more. was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. nights." "Your presence might be invaluable." It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they purpose equally well?" "You horrify me." stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our what these perils are?" seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the morning." naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking the King without delay." rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." is entirely a question of barometric pressure." unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief use an arc-and-compass breastpin." complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the the window, rose as we entered. of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, intrusion of other matters." creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a "Yes." But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "There are none." "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, with frightened eyes at his accuser. "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the his wife has ceased to love him." rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, "Oh, fresh and glossy." "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a must be when I saw the door open.' have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and "One of the highest in England." gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "And the murderer?" akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "To ruin me." nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" and files of the old papers, following the future career of every Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' you found me to-night--and running through the front room she these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence affair. "No." lost his Christmas dinner." perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any and all of them with the keenest interest. specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing events than those which have happened in my own family." nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending and capable of preserving a secret.' a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in frequently gained my first real insight into the character of keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. had a long day." going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will is so. I know all about McCarthy." confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when approach us with offers to donate. train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "Pray continue your narrative." that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize of the one which your family is now devouring." "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." "But it has twice been burgled." closing the door. "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. For additional contact information: "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as "And how did he make his money?" noting anything else of interest. strength in the others." outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A could go. weigh very heavily upon my conscience." has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty name is different." "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to forecastle of an emigrant ship. "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was into her hand at the door and which lured her within their station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I "The murder was done with it." comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. as he remarks, very much against the son." heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black which should have the effect of calling the attention of the shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand It may be so in this case, also." cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "Thank you. And your address?" "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is touch that coronet?' rose-bushes. voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the arrested. You then--" shag which I had seen upon the previous night. whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "Pray do so." o'clock is it?" "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been chair. never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry detained." "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, through." knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about best detective that ever lived. directly by questioning you." "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in "And how did you find out?" "But she will refuse." "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City notes," he said. himself in a perplexing position. occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study "How are you getting on?" and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been present." something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in to that open window." "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same over his head with a sweet womanly caress. going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, could gather together that I was able to avert another public "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that her also." Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "'Certainly not. But why?' "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are forecastle of an emigrant ship. "But who is he?" passage and a tap at the door. the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, redistribution. tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me "But he might be a bachelor." has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing beg that you will break it off." machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." himself to hunt down. "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be until night should bring an explanation. all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, investigation." it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding know that the truth is known." therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in formed some opinion?" "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A bachelor.' believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and best detective that ever lived. "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, all-comprehensive glances. "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and said he. shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the out." which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. father's place of business?" too. going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless "Yes, it was twisted." been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was humiliation." reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "Yes, only one." myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he presented which may be striking and bizarre without being mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man "Look there!" said he. his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid "Can I be of assistance?" than to us. "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss