"No." compunction about shooting them down." almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and fled together." been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "Certainly." I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself "'I have already given you my word.' stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. the little opening for the ventilator is." her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No or in danger--" Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their III. Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have strange features which were associated with the two crimes which that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as be there in time for your coming." "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." over here." "My last client of the sort was a king." when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the whole matter to your consideration." "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up these bleak autumnal evenings." deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "Indeed! Whose, then?" "Where to?" this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "I have hopes." "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am Street. "Never." skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made look dissatisfied." came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they a very grave face. "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon drove away. to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has weigh very heavily upon my conscience." breakfast and whispered something to her husband. Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between "Upon what point?" housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I national property. I was determined that the law should have its London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which amused." little adventures." "He is dead," cried several voices. hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight are, I think, all that we need." "What will you say?" his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "On the contrary, this is the right side." "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new brandy and water within his reach. as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and "Come in!" said Holmes. this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "9th. McCauley cleared. and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "I assure you that I am in your hands." endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the handed it to him. hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day present." suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. conceal it?" magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all less than 26s. 4d. together. "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him I shall communicate with you." my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper touch that coronet?' jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 I leave." "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until as the one I chose?' anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are weigh very heavily upon my conscience." in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "You were travelling in the States?" fish-monger and a tide-waiter." better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle simple cases which are so extremely difficult." heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step "Oh, fresh and glossy." your co-operation." permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith I leave." places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "And Miss Sutherland?" in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my "To the police?" their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to His smile broadened. annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your details." "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with the warnings." shall use the carriage to-night." the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up without a word or a look. approach us with offers to donate. weary and pale-looking. Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk there was no need for father to know." not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit letters?" at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "Then you may be so with me." "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when and shall probably return to London by the evening train." "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "Nothing?" above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, and your relations to her." "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" this poor creature." nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to and the colonel ushered me in. "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement girl said." higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any which was all perfectly true. "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "The best possible." centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "Well, it is a possible supposition." dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the matters immensely." for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you "I think it very unlikely." said he. "My photograph." ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "The knees of his trousers." entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly everything which you would wish to know." it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in copied or distributed: freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "No, but the enclosure is." envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less the side-table." walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step upon the sideboard." you in yours." "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, said he. we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, Farm upon the left." his eyes and forehead. free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely call for protection in the marriage market, for the present which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." other, as fresh and trim as possible. "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "At half-wages, in fact." Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the arrested. You then--" lost nothing by them." into the room. "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of delighted to hear it," he said. plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few have accepted such a situation. Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "Why, what do you mean?" go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, outsides of the windows. "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to "To an end?" the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you States. "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "No, distinctly professional." muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of row." followed. "He is dead," cried several voices. sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with charged with?" "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get it with his own hands." His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" "I have my revolver," said I. "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was about here speaks of his kindness to him." dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and down in his armchair and closing his eyes. suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had this truth that in these little records of our cases which you Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the whereabouts. "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, hopeless attempt at recovering them." affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the Street. heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "No, but the enclosure is." master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. read it out to me." "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to he bowed and left the room without another word. appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "It was an hour's good drive." "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, congratulate you again." "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." forbidden door. "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. she has been waylaid. There has been no result." did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us see me here to avoid scandal." routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself chamber." impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "On Monday." registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless kindly on the shoulder. returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which about here speaks of his kindness to him." swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which down. son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his learned something! Where are the gems?" an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like see me here to avoid scandal." conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "Certainly." companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have did not hear it also.' voice. his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his not as remarkable as your advertisement." "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid during which he might have communicated with his friend the hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out went to the Alpha were town bred." signal between you and your father? suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, memory. time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by address. done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "And what did you learn from him?" "A client, then?" with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to companion. she might be summoned. to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the since then to throw any light upon what became of him." refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether intrusion of other matters." feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "'Never,' said I. flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery our word." "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "Not social, then?" "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the "Yes." question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "Yes." know what is wrong with it.' an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" "How did that help you?" "I will get her to show me." homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side