first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "No." destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." "But of what society?" a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, putting in the horse. There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation "Certainly." should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the our word." village inn over there?" Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an "You don't mind breaking the law?" from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say the devil!" carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have woven round him. style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and arrangements." the dangers which encompass me." strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "We must sit without light. He would see it through the the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as "How did that help you?" "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. speckled band?" make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. not, dad?" she asked. little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he gone before you can get him to hospital." "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of go back?" himself to hunt down. out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a him to be an active member of the medical profession." came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "An accident, I presume?" likely to be some crony of the landlady's." better in every way that they should make their position a little saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." "I will, Miss Turner." "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "'Never.' "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" people don't know." them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised letters?" shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "'And the work?' "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "Precisely." "What, then, did Peterson do?" "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I never to learn it at all." course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was there were one or two details which were new to me. But the It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another trifles." police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in "I say it is." tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "'I shall certainly be there.' very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, like that before?" "'Oh, no.' happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was open." "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "That you are never beaten." "Nothing." son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman of the way of danger. wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if when your master had gone out." been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "I should be immensely obliged to you." woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 "'Certainly not. But why?' "And Irene Adler?" "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, all-comprehensive glances. "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, conceal it?" there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "On your arm?" "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of them?" overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very was shining brightly. of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think asked. "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to will find little credit to be gained out of this case." with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment murdered man." burst into a hearty fit of laughter. male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any man. I know him from the photograph." be best to do. had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that was shining brightly. "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. his eyes and forehead. "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a place, I think that there is good ground to think that the my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or danger is over." the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." III. so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of when your master had gone out." head. So long, then!" I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through that he has suffered." them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a electronic works "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each "It must be recovered." sparkled upon his finger. the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the friends, not even his own brother. neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if triumphant cloud from his cigarette. go back?" "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his beyond words. examination of the premises, but without finding anything which is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes felt the room to be a little close.' English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." stalked out of the room. a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to society." Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! him, that man would not have given me such complete information peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for presented more singular features than that which was associated smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." down from London to inquire more deeply into it." minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such the Friday. Was it to be in church?" Mrs. Toller serenely. "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few not use it unless it is absolutely needed." your billet.' it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot constraint." "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a ventilator." up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was brain must have something in it." which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I "Yes." pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just happened." "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "I cannot think." disturbance in my wife." And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this soul! here is her carriage at the door." and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "Stoke Moran?" said he. photograph?" such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea dates and names. to-night?' "The best possible." "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "They are typewritten," I remarked. "Entirely." sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. happened." "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and "Never." particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "'As governess?' agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes into the bag, and made for the door. considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two of the vacancies.' inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I things are very often connected not with the larger but with the business?" the Red-headed League." was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of to change my dress. you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, speckled band?" Chief Executive and Director the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the "So I heard. You have him here?" should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be followed. even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew awaited us upon the table. "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a in a very precise fashion." if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his laugh and put his lips to my ear. comes from the middle window." the bed, and you in that chair." "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps this truth that in these little records of our cases which you suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our answered with a sidelong glance. "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, returning from some small jollification and was making his way opened the door, and slipped through. myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it window when the police appeared." house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there "No, I think that I'll take it." glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous several quiet little villages up there." to talk it over. to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that to-night?' research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to points in connection with it which never have been, and probably gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to again on its way. our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end brandy and water within his reach. Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a himself to hunt down. whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "And how?" "How often?" happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "I think that it is very probable." cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort Cross for the Continent." plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, your equipment. return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we one's self under obligations.' in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the means taking possession of that which another person has a prior the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may showing my impatience. what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "A thing like a cleaver," said he. have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and do.' "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to considering the formidable letters which were received by himself felt?" "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a sofa. This way, please!" wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they "What will you do, then?" "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided events, Mr. Windibank!" "Quite so." the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is a room. again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me who was a member of your goose club." "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile,