Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" "That is it on the dressing-table." them present such singular features as the strange train of of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right to take care of herself." unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My extraordinary contortions. fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the Surrey." same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I morning." "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the meant it for the best. "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said "And leave your case unfinished?" Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, "And the cigar-holder?" "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we them present such singular features as the strange train of second window is the one that I jumped from." sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "Entirely." salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was meant it for the best. a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "I say that I have solved it." International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make of receipt of the work. "Then I shall certainly come." road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "This concluded the examination of the witness." jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." congratulate you again." to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever "But I am all in the dark." the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly of." "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of empty. with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from said he. fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their "By no means." "Perhaps we may make them less so." collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back few hundred pounds.' Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of woven round him. fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, key of the affair now." has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life searched, without anything being found which could incriminate lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't in the hope of finding them." profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is envelope. "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not the side-table." "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction "And the cigar-holder?" an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. "But the mystery?" consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," them present such singular features as the strange train of there has been an enclosure here!" "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely "I am about to be married." "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "Oh, yes, easily." just called myself is not exactly my own." into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he prison!" will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has said he, "my real name is James Ryder." need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no union?" thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. swore that no one else had been in the front room during the to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "To ruin me." "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** then?" hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel four million human beings all jostling each other within the when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "But what harm can there be in that?" which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "In answer to an advertisement." The summons was a brief and urgent one. would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a to his chemical studies. of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "You have the photograph?" had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "I will try. What is it?" his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." time." with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat may never be exposed to such a temptation." "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may individual and becomes the badge of a society." with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in had this final quarrel? cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. respectable self." came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious carpenter." access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "'I am sure if I had known--' "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. "My own seal." "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, at a side door. after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob stepfather?" investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many room. age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are to-night." me. You must get home instantly and act." really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer "They are typewritten," I remarked. she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry followed. third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she you in your example." of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "A greater distance to travel." sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a meanly of me." preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the completely overtopped every other consideration that we both Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they had a long day." he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "That sounds a little paradoxical." "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel yourselves in at night?" Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "Yes." freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another words came to my lips. surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE away to you." "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she during which he might have communicated with his friend the "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet conversation I have gathered that they have been married about she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the colour had been driven from his face. stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I "'And the work?' my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper of campaign. I nodded to show that I had heard. the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked done what I asked you, Jones?" "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. or other trace. But how on earth--" man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and father's young wife. coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far fuss that is made over them." have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is "None. Neville wrote those words." my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the It may be so in this case, also." served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were You want to know what became of those geese?" "It is no ordinary one." fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much may never be exposed to such a temptation." week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical "The best possible." "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "It is very clear." which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire sparkled upon his finger. gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. tapping his fingers upon the table. he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door gone. "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they with some details as to your case." "Yes, it would be as well." save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie his cane at the bell-pull. father's young wife. to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my "What, then, did Peterson do?" of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I weapon." "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your had this final quarrel? in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in towards the blaze. cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." "Did your wife hear all this?" send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "What I expected to see." would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange telegram would bring me down to your help." your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps already been minutely examined." array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, official police." from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. future lives." the dangers which encompass me." "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the "I should be immensely obliged to you." about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love "I will not look." of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after this Miss Turner." entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case article?" dear old homesteads?" "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak 11:15.' listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold suddenly upon us." relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out him and tried to hold him back. wedding?" too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with obstinate." can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no "No." "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as people don't know." "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "In heaven's name, what for?" The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out children over to America with him, so that I found myself without refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "My own seal." an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "Game for a morning drive?" of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the business came to an end." "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw developed." the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if "Nothing." nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a