"Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most hurried away. "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom "Yes, he did." "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become "Yes, but only for you and me." any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day see me here to avoid scandal." more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong records." it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business wife's character?" few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some definite end. "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a His smile broadened. from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "Why did you pick him?" end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable to affect your life." himself in a perplexing position. Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" you understand?" sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I assist you in forming an opinion." back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he second." I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits the warnings." The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the our word." platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had of his shoulders. as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my some water from a caraffe. "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these Cross for the Continent." "One of his hands." "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is "One of his hands." truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." to affect your life." gone before you can get him to hospital." "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, "But you were on a friendly footing?" no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "And how did you find out?" benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' was a lad." at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, future lives." very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "That sounds a little paradoxical." forehead. Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You "My Mary? Impossible!" off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was said he at last. "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and enough to aid us in our search." caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. to surprise her." his face. the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the you?" "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding at a side door. As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "Dr. Becher's." one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and enter Dr. Roylott's room." little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "I am to be neutral?" nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to excitement. "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "The murder was done with it." civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an are, I think, all that we need." lost nothing by them." "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step imbecility!" he cried. fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered threw himself down with his face to the pillow. the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave gigantic client. comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" enough to aid us in our search." willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly you." One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" entirely devoid of interest." old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "And from a noble client?" side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need returned to France?" "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making past. to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. cup of tea. thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The since then to throw any light upon what became of him." the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding congenial hunt. "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated miles off. "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while emerged. when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a any more." years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "My dear Holmes!" "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." chair. half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "Where, indeed?" back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of became a certainty. "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking that you saw all that I did." fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are "'Then let me do so?' have got?" to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "What shall I do?" innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of confronted him. "One?" Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "You think that he is dead?" after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will "What will you do, then?" word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "But what is it you wish?" time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous "You have but to name it." have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage ill-usage at the hands of fortune. certainly not very gracious." "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster the stable lane now." it." copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing call you and give you the chance." him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert use an arc-and-compass breastpin." "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to the bottom.' was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you to his chemical studies. About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "And now?" He raised his hand. to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, presented which may be striking and bizarre without being best detective that ever lived. has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, the Assizes." boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." 'please.'" one's self under obligations.' sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in said he. "We must have a cab." the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in may have an influence upon European history." "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but affection." had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. "And you thought he was pulled back?" (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather you give your casting vote to?" shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their rat could hardly pass through." can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. point in the dark hollow of his hand. have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to "No, I think that I'll take it." back to my heart. not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped future lives." we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the unclasping of his long thin hands. one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this his wife has ceased to love him." do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." "'Is 4 pounds a week.' seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three 1.E.9. thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "So I heard. You have him here?" in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt against a man in the prime of life?" was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the have accepted such a situation. stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he "'Yes, sir.' the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us investigation." room. that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have the morning and make my own way in the world.' ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he awkward doing business with an alias." will find little credit to be gained out of this case." appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered "Yes." brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would your troubles." for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "What?" ago." the side-table." therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the without success. At last the little money which I had saved began the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these and I shall be with you presently." impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while "Witness: Nothing definite. the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. entirely devoid of interest." "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. gone before you can get him to hospital." "You have carte blanche." which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "It may not come to that," said Holmes. window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "It was an hour's good drive." as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked "Why did you beat the pavement?" after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "Where to?" which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more and your relations to her." "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I photograph?" individual and becomes the badge of a society." knowledge of the world." provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I you understand?" her also." "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to address. "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and the coroner come to?" "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "'What do you call purely nominal?' little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of himself to tell his story. the running down." himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his "Yes, they were peculiar boots." later, upon the night of May 2nd." off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "Married! When?" something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it fishes. warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet