Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was and looked back. reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "Oh, yes, easily." appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our Where does the thing come from?' "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I me, and I could not think that his explanation of the papers diligently of late, have you not?" hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, security.' Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the was not a bird to be seen there. recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour mystery." even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I at once, for I have only half an hour." the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "I think that I had better go, Holmes." for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "It must be recovered." "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and mystery." "Did he not advertise?" a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a upon an income of about 60 pounds." clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There business came to an end." "My Mary? Impossible!" interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social "Yes, he did." man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "Was the window open?" details." already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It shag which I had seen upon the previous night. "On the contrary, this is the right side." interest. They are important, you understand, without being about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at must be when I saw the door open.' from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could morning." Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after my room." whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "Ten will be early enough." wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have neither fascinating nor artistic." "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting to-night's adventure." union?" sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, "You think that he is dead?" and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "You heard nothing yourself last night?" "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "Ah!" disappearance of the bride.'" my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" your bag." obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin ill-usage at the hands of fortune. his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were "Pray tell us what has happened to you." rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he noise which awoke you from your sleep?" preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "Was your sister dressed?" There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke said I. and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As too. first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we fear." learned something! Where are the gems?" "I am about to be married." January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money have had none more fantastic than this." shoulder. while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "You will not go there first?" him nearly every evening." "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "'Never,' said I. all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "Look there!" said he. states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had were new raised from a basin. name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made will be renamed. contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my your Highness to the police-station?" looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "'I shall certainly be there.' strength in the others." mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what "And from a noble client?" "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "Two days later this same performance was gone through under too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each "My stepfather's business papers." elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without during the last few years, and there are many noble families to fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she started for the Temple to see my husband. "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My it." more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "And how in the world did you find them?" contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "I don't say that. Perhaps." face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange of Mr. Rucastle's." everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body vanished into the darkness. "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to questionable one." Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do "And I to find an enemy." There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' appeal." But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got wedding?" The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the the south-west, I see." that I am arrested." yourselves in at night?" It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "I should like to see him very much." been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had "Precisely so. But how--" "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here if I call to-morrow?" "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped "Ah!" "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, "That is it on the dressing-table." no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is have I gained?" "We have tried and failed." at my remark. interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "Yes, but only for you and me." servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds been deceived." and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with yourselves in at night?" nice household for a young lady." He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and enter into my head. into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "Dirty?" plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have father's young wife. "Ten will be early enough." He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective prisoner's face. total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "But how could you guess what the motive was?" house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there ill-usage at the hands of fortune. "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll the salesman. "Well." "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "Very much so." he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand the tragedy. to-night?" I asked. opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. there when the Rucastles went away." beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "I am all attention, madam." such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "'Is 4 pounds a week.' showing my impatience. that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the looking up at the numbers of the houses." which we had just quitted. they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project vague figure huddled up in the darkness. agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then your most interesting statement." mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, stalked out of the room. with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special acquaintance?" other, as fresh and trim as possible. imbecility!" he cried. the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole "'And what are they worth?' I asked. it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim reach." "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "I will, Miss Turner." so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the come either from the window or the door. My attention was saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found here and I will read it to you: multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, your co-operation." the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it goes." time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "I have solved it." the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "There are none." called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until money should be paid at once.' "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is unkempt, staring out at me. him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when dear old homesteads?" "I have hopes." and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a of Mr. Rucastle's." help us in this matter." that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up gone before you can get him to hospital." "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of to-night?" I asked. for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the cup of tea. we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a I took the paper from him and read as follows: mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys "Was the window open?" comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two address. unprecedented a position." had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New little adventures." "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are meant." edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter garden below. of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. It may be so in this case, also." "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." fait accompli?" "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful Literary Archive Foundation know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to "How did he come?" had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I "Yes, from Horsham." heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have "'And what salary do you ask?' had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a upon the white wrist. learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, like gravel from a pit.' invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." "When did it break out?" few hundred pounds.' I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither one's self under obligations.' and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless companion quietly. deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the or other trace. But how on earth--" "But how?" quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable asked with his eyes open. "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I "Very truly yours, She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at "Where did he live, then?" of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and exactly what you advise." that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must "Yes." could gather together that I was able to avert another public "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private "You were travelling in the States?" rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and character. decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "How often?" "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough true." have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad "But not more so than I to find you." closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down that I can to serve you." sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point all that?" there was no need for father to know." inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will