my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may dates and names. done what I asked you, Jones?" For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it to-night." a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "Could he throw no light?" held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was with her." "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to "We have tried and failed." "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the ourselves in the office." It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch "I see many objections to any such theory." past. "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the "Tired-looking or fresh?" and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. you want, then?' really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already DAMAGE. Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "He might." that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. "Will you go?" take the flies, but not before." informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always that you saw all that I did." the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, at once, for I have only half an hour." My friend smiled. as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a said I. and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "It missed him, then?" "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of envelope. ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether will take you up to see the machine.' awaited us upon the table. de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon chair. living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your be. and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that unprofitable." set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 amused." was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "But your client--" "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the fluttered off among the others. Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her helping a boy to put up the shutters. companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water like that before?" are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, I shall continue with my miserable story. explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at mysterious business." case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many careless servant girl?" sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with closing the door. surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "I cannot tell." "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite front of the hall door has given its name to the place. there were one or two details which were new to me. But the security.' hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were wanted for ourselves." are windows in it, of course?" remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and "Yes, it was twisted." so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, evidence," I remarked. Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my "Nothing." tied." in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "It goes to the housekeeper's room." total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. "But how?" Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and "I would give my fortune to have them back." "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran other, as fresh and trim as possible. waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, John Swain, of St. Augustine. "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now straightened it out again. produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. she used." "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful charged with?" forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "Nothing." over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to "I fear not." panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "What! Had he lost his wife?" answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation "I see many objections to any such theory." hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some all that?" "Not particularly." "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "I was mad--insane." in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." "And now?" I asked. "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but October 9, 1890. "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon in this way: "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had visitors." "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "Tired-looking or fresh?" the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "And why?" "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. village inn over there?" help us in this matter." "Yes." "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood situation." It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "I have my revolver," said I. leaning back in his chair. ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "Nothing." "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or new acquaintance to Baker Street. disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of forebodings. the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "How can you tell that?" "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I address. the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on confronted him. access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous past. impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was think, you have already met." "This concluded the examination of the witness." fait accompli?" grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses Eyford." farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been way in everything. and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "Very murderous indeed." the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a business." "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "But how?" respectable self." speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, strength." "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be really the only notable feature about the thing." residence of the great financier. lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." shall not find me ungrateful." have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, writers could invent nothing more crude." you understand?" Countess of Morcar's?" endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. gigantic client. "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the which was all perfectly true. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. II. "Yes." address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the direction." 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I chemical work which was so dear to him. posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and to Leatherhead. "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to "And it is--" the matter?" "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he minor matters until to-morrow." of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my Pope's Court. same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The of a light. be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the hair?' "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it been." plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said his grey eyes. figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "No?" however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I tapping his fingers upon the table. liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that lectures into a series of tales." in a friendly supper." father's young wife. impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what "I know where it is." son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "But you have hopes?" without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was "But we can't all be." he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable http://gutenberg.net/license). sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea have established a very serious case against the son of the he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "I am still in the dark." learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the "You'll never persuade me to believe that." game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back anything to do with the matter?" however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. come either from the window or the door. My attention was window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "Not social, then?" which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You take the flies, but not before." commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a voice, changing her seat as requested. case-book, which he consulted. memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a hand, madam?" his forehead." for securing the situation." "Well, but China?" scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." is so. I know all about McCarthy." sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "Well." when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went imbecility!" he cried. "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to