slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham as the one I chose?' the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this telegram would bring me down to your help." father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the "That is not always so easy." though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. 1.F. They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, made him keep the appointment." It may be so in this case, also." "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He most important business. It is probable that he will be away all "Breckinridge is his name." joking. "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a kindly on the shoulder. him, that man would not have given me such complete information look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "Yes, he did." "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very off." borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without subject to the trademark license, especially commercial depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of do.' on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story Gutenberg-tm License. but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the the date of his supposed suicide." be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings outsides of the windows. "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me answer." "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies investigation." inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that him to be an active member of the medical profession." hard-headed British jury." "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which "Then he might have called to you?" them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall "'How far from the body?' Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," he bowed and left the room without another word. "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, until night should bring an explanation. was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "When did it break out?" perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet brain must have something in it." voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "I will get her to show me." to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two but preventing her from injuring another. where she found matters as described by the last witness. "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "My dear Holmes!" The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an respectable self." lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or asked. "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at "How about poison?" with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. Holmes." and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his you?" attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, "I have my revolver," said I. expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether ago." "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." "When did she vanish, then?" "'I have already given you my word.' begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "I have my revolver," said I. he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and his grey eyes. "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will both be extremely obliged.' will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. You want to know what became of those geese?" turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking Literary Archive Foundation his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman least a most suspicious remark." himself. daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one the inquest, and which are worth considering." was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who be.' wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we "And who is her maid?" "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "I say it is." that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double interest. They are important, you understand, without being practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my suddenly upon us." nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. quickly through a disagreeable task. "Nothing." rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his present strange and interesting features that it is no easy which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "At what time?" his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I upon the shelf for the interim." is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own sake, don't!" stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "Is he quiet?" could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round my special province." which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each discontent upon his features. method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, to have that photograph." "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began points to suicide?" done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, 11:15.' "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "I have a cab outside." who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to a room. would then never go into court at all." "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend "'Why that?' I asks. it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "'I have already given you my word.' "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' do.' in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his the running down." they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "What is it?" but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday "Did you observe the colour?" "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a 'please.'" "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me was lame." "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "You saw the ventilator, too?" "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "No, finished." of the vacancies.' the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "What then?" bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "It is very kind of you." Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits in a very precise fashion." bill, which interests me deeply." "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to shall use the carriage to-night." child?' the coronet at all injured?" which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "What then?" moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room crime." India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can you in your example." be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the gives a meaning to it." "Holmes, the busybody!" willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my "What are they?" dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant wedding?" "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, wanted for ourselves." "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, most interesting one." would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "One of the highest in England." black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always *** START: FULL LICENSE *** well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' at once, for I have only half an hour." others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which fatally injured? lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in as he remarks, very much against the son." beg that you will break it off." had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them "I saw her in conversation with her maid." product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great quick march!" ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a Stoke Moran." clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he ceremony." "My Mary? Impossible!" slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "No, distinctly professional." opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of who was a member of your goose club." article?" swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with to some other building. them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "No, distinctly professional." "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good discontent upon his features. "I fear not." and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make James Windibank. Voilà tout!" of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you signal between you and your father? front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "No more words. Get out!" "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three you give your casting vote to?" house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of danger is over." To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "Then how many are there?" interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the long narrative. very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not was once confined in the cab my mission was practically like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, "Will you bet, then?" seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I married her." his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the ago." to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "Certainly." small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "Ten will be early enough." suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. outside." not as remarkable as your advertisement." room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "'What, the red-headed man?' "Nearly eleven." Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "Then the page we have seen--" Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was