"Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the he died? where we are going." and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I swore that no one else had been in the front room during the the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be friends, not even his own brother. was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I that you can jump it.' "Who by?" "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in of fine shops and stately business premises that they really It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "No bad?" anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "Then I can wait in the next room." given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "But he might be a bachelor." with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and me have 200 pounds?' page at http://pglaf.org "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a you." "Stolen, then." no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is charged with?" dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." frequently gained my first real insight into the character of so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "But you were on a friendly footing?" that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." carried out of court." cigars in the box." against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "Perhaps I have." "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed opened the door, and slipped through. help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." your co-operation." There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "I will get her to show me." her also." blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the this unhappy family?" when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. hard-headed British jury." "Yes." contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the "Very truly yours, say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "Yes, at the mines." "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's my former friend and companion. license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "'Certainly,' I answered. "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able business in the City. She little knew what. hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." I nodded to show that I had heard. with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." was keenly on my guard against him. "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, affair. "One horse?" interjected Holmes. the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "'Quite sure, dad.' Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "How about poison?" "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may events, Mr. Windibank!" eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily public press." they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his could not account in any way for the presence of the missing my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have "A thing like a cleaver," said he. cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from recover the gem." my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped orange pips. desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had someone who had been in Australia." I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "I am armed." some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in out." "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear Cross for the Continent." days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "The Cedars?" "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, bell. Holmes whistled. girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped outside. can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks This is what he says: astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. at home. examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads writer." "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very I am not easy in my mind about them." at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than Does that suggest anything?" table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by happened." "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "If so, much may have happened between." and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty "It's nothing of the kind." along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack you." the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. girl said." opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "Indeed! Whose, then?" "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very Henry Baker is a member." Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied Leadenhall Street--and--" the so-precious time, but come!' I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel ran thus: servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric noting anything else of interest. "I have hopes." along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my fluttered off among the others. "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it desk. have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as III. the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a all-comprehensive glances. the stones. "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "Was he the only applicant?" at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry call for it in person on Monday morning.' "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy my room." Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. forebodings. might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's I approached. with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, upon the shelf for the interim." Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among of the one which your family is now devouring." investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of some water from a caraffe. gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads "At half-wages, in fact." his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "And from a noble client?" It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "'Tell me all about it,' said I. later, upon the night of May 2nd." three fields round his house, and there he would take his pity, because in other respects you would really have done very where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "Frequently." safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I the so-precious time, but come!' not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the "Of what day?" the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "Then what has happened to him?" whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "He might." Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch papers must be those that are destroyed.' lamp in his hand. questioning and rather startled gaze. and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" really the only notable feature about the thing." each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary tell me that you intended to go into harness." and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "Of what?" Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "Nothing." evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his that, and I came down." crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in You can understand that this register and diary may implicate where we are going." "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I within hail.' many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the without a word or a look. inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell wedding?" "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a him." observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have "And on what day did he meet his death?" Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help your troubles." "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "It must be recovered." have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "And why?" touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Holmes." wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light "I was sure that I might rely on you." mysterious business." to-morrow." wife's character?" "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." "I am sure." "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It will be renamed. wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" had this final quarrel? "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a companion imperturbably. Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and the coroner come to?" gone before you can get him to hospital." serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' man. situation." "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "The gentleman I describe." "No, I am descending." woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "Will you bet, then?" It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "I cannot think." time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight nothing of it?" or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my placed his cuttings. "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. my room." with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "Nothing." I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the in this way: thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with "Who by?" permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. character. thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some test if we have an answer to our advertisement." There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his