across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of believe that I should never have any practice at all. explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." directors, with the result that you have seen." very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and there were so many in the whole country as were brought together shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H suddenly upon us." "Where did you address your letters, then?" profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on "Then I can wait in the next room." sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use who was a member of your goose club." charge against him will break down." certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you copied or distributed: shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of undoubtedly my uncle's." is worth.' "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "'What are you doing there?' he asked. be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the relief. gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he What do you deduce from it?" upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." corner of the building. professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "I am armed." "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in husband's writing, madam." believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." Pope's Court. "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." "Will you bet, then?" "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "Ha! you find it so?" to-night." "You are all wrong." Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "No, I had a dozen." tension within him. Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH of his shoulders. tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her will be renamed. chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking future lives." him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that mysterious end." "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a "What steps will you take?" I asked. aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and most interesting one." doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was possible that we could bring him back to her? One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the own family. moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, way in everything. "Oh, the cause is excellent!" elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" to-night." They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." once more for Briony Lodge. occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an thought that she would have been so carried away." saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. "And how did he make his money?" we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "What shall I do?" "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very "You have the photograph?" "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. breakfast." error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER matter over." who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, him to go away.' it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was good-night and bustled off upon her way. "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in this as likely?" and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully spare." "I am following you closely," I answered. roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence habit of advancing money.' "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm "Where, then, is my wife?" "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "You think so, too?" and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening Dr. Gregory B. Newby when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert have accepted such a situation. whole matter to your consideration." my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard "And why?" "You think so, too?" you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of whereabouts. "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, your most interesting statement." said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a now. It seems that there had been some informality about their and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the "'Ample.' he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "But you would not advise me to refuse?" minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "None." Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time whole matter to your consideration." delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work one's self under obligations.' been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. "You have compromised yourself seriously." Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching "What?" into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and "Not yet." "And leave your case unfinished?" "My stepfather's business papers." headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him me, and I could not think that his explanation of the was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that intrusion of other matters." calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he "The gentleman I describe." fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said Surrey." Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "In the cells." instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after "You have carte blanche." He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "'Certainly not. But why?' no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. o'clock is it?" no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will room had already been engaged for us. A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "Yes." handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I the date of his supposed suicide." "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a was the fact that his father should, according to his account, plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." conversation I have gathered that they have been married about "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and to his chemical studies. upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. existence." "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future thin, with a long, sharp nose?" more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to bearing upon the case." constraint." weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the new duties?' "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic and have this put in the evening papers." "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "And how have you succeeded?" vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. footfalls from the street. "And from a noble client?" could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left new acquaintance to Baker Street. detained." fire. You quite follow me?" and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for once more. you understand?" opened a pocket-book and took out a note. corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view child?' companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and tapping his fingers upon the table. "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "None." have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt Holmes' room. beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would window when the police appeared." "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he Holmes rather sternly. I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, with frightened eyes at his accuser. hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in she might be summoned. "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "The doctor?" gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his time." "How can you tell that?" the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "And how did he make his money?" the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. "The doctor?" sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I politicians who had been sent down from the North. Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where copied or distributed: "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the the devil!" I took the paper from him and read as follows: "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a already been minutely examined." Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where down. than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of "Yes, I have one waiting." the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes approach us with offers to donate. massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me call for it in person on Monday morning.' International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. asked with his eyes open. glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He there were so many in the whole country as were brought together George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not coroner's jury." of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course details should find their way into the papers. Inspector those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four you understand?" his grey eyes. "You horrify me!" old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. gone. hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two know what is wrong with it.' reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to south, for the country is more deserted there." with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his at once, for I have only half an hour." and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." Literary Archive Foundation pity, because in other respects you would really have done very way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I like gravel from a pit.' written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that will find little credit to be gained out of this case." opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran telegram would bring me down to your help." occupations.' am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without to-night?" I asked. other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of points in connection with it which never have been, and probably "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie."