"How did you trace it, then?" subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of have had none more fantastic than this." "Now, then, what's the last entry?" another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked Lee, in the county of Kent." "'And the work?' he. it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. you came in." when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" "You have carte blanche." the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the trifles." o'clock is it?" "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and Foundation friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and asked. into her hand at the door and which lured her within their outbreak?" inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never them present such singular features as the strange train of on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and kind enough to tell me what I should do." the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. "Then you may be so with me." memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, "Yes?" the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six "'Ample.' intimate personal affairs in this public manner." child?' "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at carriage. It was a chestnut." "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in sparkled upon his finger. "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we and the whole place is in a blaze." Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's place no limit on the sum I may draw." practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in "'Certainly,' I answered. ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, she has been waylaid. There has been no result." Holmes." shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "I fear not." "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "It certainly sounds feasible." could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and companion quietly. pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "'And what are they worth?' I asked. companion imperturbably. "His face fell immediately. 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with there in twenty minutes." the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. "But what is it you wish?" drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" case before our client came into the room." which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." generous with you in money matters.' Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and "Certainly." the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am there were so many in the whole country as were brought together that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "And the cigar-holder?" himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes and the whole place is in a blaze." Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in brandy and water within his reach. someone who had been in Australia." "Thank you. And your address?" in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his where we are going." "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "We were both in the photograph." "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take money should be paid at once.' out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue "A client, then?" darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said signal between you and your father? "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. helping a boy to put up the shutters. father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, most interesting one." hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "The Coroner: What do you mean? problems help me to do so." occupations.' "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a it? Did I buy the geese off you?" into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search vault. where she found matters as described by the last witness. "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight was it brought him the coronet? and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as woman." small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray "'What then?' I asked. Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds desk. "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." question you as to those details which seem to me to be most so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "None. Neville wrote those words." to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The pictures, libraries, or plate. the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me bedroom door." "She told me to ask you." this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "Your French gold?" sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the events, Mr. Windibank!" evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he persecution?" never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "No. What a strange idea!" sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it golden eyeglasses. "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "Can I be of assistance?" "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. not fit the lock." over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its appeared upon the scene." could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said The summons was a brief and urgent one. shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "What then?" the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. to tell." increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our "Then how many are there?" dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my fled together." bonnet, and went out." he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. him." "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "I do." hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one felt the room to be a little close.' his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he one of them." my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "And for present expenses?" an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet train.' afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "In what way?" asked Holmes. she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin certainly not very gracious." grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the the coroner come to?" evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a McCarthy." there when the Rucastles went away." might have a private word with us. instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the I was concerned in it." the devil!" lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so go--none." as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." that you can jump it.' cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock Pool. I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door the room while you explain this matter?" that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. other, as fresh and trim as possible. had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to thin legs towards the fire. presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally "Certainly, madam." taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "I have come for advice." International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out sake, don't!" the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during "Well, some hundreds of times." "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it "What can it mean?" I gasped. When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and "That's no good." struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years beg that you will break it off." Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "You have it, sir, just as it happened." the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it yards of it?' there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, Project Gutenberg-tm works. "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "Seven!" I answered. is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "Yes, he did." Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were the inquest, and which are worth considering." opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be a little more before I quite committed myself. and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage do." Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "Imitated." to miss it." middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the key of the affair now." forbidden door. relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too whatever might befall. change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "Why serious?" screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. gone. pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "My private note-paper." a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever you." so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. morning." all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my be.' correct than the official force." The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out before, for it was considerably after midnight. "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a meanly of me." bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "Eh? What was that?" the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how evidence," I remarked. Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" humiliation." said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of to tackle the facts." 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to