"because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My was not a bird to be seen there. is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was best detective that ever lived. but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had questioning and rather startled gaze. named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade wanted for ourselves." could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" new acquaintance to Baker Street. visitors." more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, absolutely follow my advice in every respect." the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "ARAT," I read. to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to "And how did you find out?" young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the as noiselessly as she had come. daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "Yes, they were peculiar boots." imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each very peculiar words of the dying woman?" course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "Not I." Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked business." myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a nothing with him." 'I should be able to look after that for you.' he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, will find little credit to be gained out of this case." drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I DAMAGE. "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his at a side door. considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been "Eh? What was that?" line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, over part of the map. "What do you read?" o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he http://www.gutenberg.net excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is telegram would bring me down to your help." "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime burst into a hearty fit of laughter. the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to questionable one." said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "Holmes, the busybody!" to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "Your French gold?" its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second character. and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled prison!" "I have my revolver," said I. his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. "Then you may entirely rely on me." many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that "This photograph!" way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." "That is unusual in a young girl." already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The at home. here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland him." inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of States. province." "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "And your father? Did you tell him?" "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, province." very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of answered with a sidelong glance. the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, the coronet at all injured?" round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "'You doubt its value?' he asked. back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that shall not find me ungrateful." paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features joking. emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," "I cannot imagine." This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to only touch the interest." firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "Nothing." "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, photograph?" "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what clang of the bell. is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "9th. McCauley cleared. that threaten you." or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work instituted." making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised his forehead." the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. unclasping of his long thin hands. centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in considering the formidable letters which were received by himself I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that thin, with a long, sharp nose?" into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." companion imperturbably. betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to crime. problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, matter over." congratulate you again." across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while his cane at the bell-pull. the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain at my own good fortune. probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by signal between you and your father? "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "Not him." I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read fatally injured? "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "But you have hopes?" that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit late." A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting hands. "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a pierced for earrings?" "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small cause to be." Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a I took the paper from him and read as follows: a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "That you are never beaten." interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and be.' saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses Gutenberg-tm License. end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did been able to understand it, in a very few words. eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend "'Yes, I promise.' cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average that the gas is not laid on in his house?" shall use the carriage to-night." individual and becomes the badge of a society." "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the awkward doing business with an alias." "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "But how will you look?" headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his prisoner's face. knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are danger is over." some terrible trap for her." cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, the best of training." may have an influence upon European history." Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "And for present expenses?" "In the cells." down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: open." will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, you came in." once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is affair. acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, but preventing her from injuring another. been shamefully used." eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, respectable self." come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the salesman. the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend wedding?" the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, in his hands." preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "I fear not." down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "My stepfather's business papers." "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is of fine shops and stately business premises that they really assist you in forming an opinion." remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" upon an income of about 60 pounds." front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE lamp in his hand. stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "Thank you. Pray proceed." is a common subject for conversation. "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which see me here to avoid scandal." wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible "And how have you succeeded?" definite end. strength in the others." even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small address. the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. "'Never.' over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. "Eh? What was that?" very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' fatally injured? he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. your equipment. take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my "You have but to name it." detained." answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and bonnet, and went out." before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court such attractions and accomplishments?' you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that it." "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not of them has the shutters up.' better grown goose." time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good woman." your most interesting statement." "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting man. I know him from the photograph." I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger distance from the station, and there we found the young lady shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "This photograph!" narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: Lee, in the county of Kent." he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers problems help me to do so." the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and "He said too much." believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being Does that suggest anything?" could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "And Miss Sutherland?" "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "Well?" *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the During two years I have had three consultations and one small gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to clang of the bell. combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his