"Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. "But your client--" lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been "How are you getting on?" "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was national property. I was determined that the law should have its figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "Stolen." were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which to tackle the facts." "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a III. "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "Of Friday, June 19th." strength of mind to control. sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "It is possible." Gutenberg-tm License. Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at "Oh, the cause is excellent!" acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' there were so many in the whole country as were brought together The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away chambers. "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual "Proceed, then." "In what way?" asked Holmes. matters immensely." nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his it." cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City photograph a cabinet?" it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We DAMAGE. butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the said Mr. Holder. Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it Holmes." Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "And you can do nothing until then?" "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light persecution?" highroad, where all traces were lost. the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "Perhaps I have." "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of "May I see it?" this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation in him." himself to tell his story. to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel the running down." At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry "And how?" "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." gbnewby@pglaf.org brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His three of the beryls in it, was missing. "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I really the only notable feature about the thing." then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As a little more before I quite committed myself. recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon married her." from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. "Was there a secret marriage?" long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did in the port of London." "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for even so self-evident a thing as that." gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the better grown goose." "Who by?" "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was James Windibank. Voilà tout!" houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the this man was intellectual?" right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same three of the beryls in it, was missing. at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my stammered. really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I "Yes?" in the dead of the night?' creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "So I have heard." newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it may never be exposed to such a temptation." least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the will be renamed. "Is he quiet?" in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action completely overtopped every other consideration that we both collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to noise which awoke you from your sleep?" music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes gone. "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into of this gang." to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. wedding?" possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a way in everything. "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are fluttered off among the others. of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "Was he the only applicant?" as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is absorbing." behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "From his hat?" "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. Leadenhall Street--and--" and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible "What?" "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point shaken than I had ever seen him. you." "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we examine." some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the children over to America with him, so that I found myself without He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "I see many objections to any such theory." whether it answered to the description of any of their a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been pressing in one house as in another. "Where, then, is my wife?" therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a and wait." charge against him will break down." dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "Have you her photograph?" insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for "I guessed as much." corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." helping a boy to put up the shutters. reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than subject to the trademark license, especially commercial dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found friend's singular character. hereditary King of Bohemia." States. instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, opportunities to fix the problem. "I say it is." side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and License. You must require such a user to return or bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off "But what harm can there be in that?" a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached bare slabs of marble. to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon congratulate you again." was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a the Friday. Was it to be in church?" "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which words came to my lips. me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" anything to do with the matter?" homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately to-night." stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front "This concluded the examination of the witness." beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital way: of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "'Yes, sir.' It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you never will be, entirely cleared up. was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "To an English lawyer named Norton." "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That "My dear Holmes!" They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that business." "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to presented more singular features than that which was associated whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he morning." "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "She told me to ask you." He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." knowledge of the world." workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "'Yes, sir.' America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my This is what he says: formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to upon an income of about 60 pounds." "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not tell me that you intended to go into harness." to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, not, dad?" she asked. downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. power." man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed may never be exposed to such a temptation." money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I This is what he says: Cross for the Continent." test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have of receipt of the work. returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and "But his lameness?" crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the words came to my lips. although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, formed some opinion?" photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "Entirely." "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. case before our client came into the room." high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east went to the Alpha were town bred." brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, will be renamed. some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must you, my dear young lady?' leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. "You saw the ventilator, too?" a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated "One of the highest in England." "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as way in everything. "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in written, and locked the door of the office after me. redistribution. spark where all is dark to me." "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his "Yes." usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been http://www.gutenberg.net puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there became a certainty. the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was "A greater distance to travel." my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from way in." his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been case-book, which he consulted. elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. was already answered. making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of he. "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "Stolen." with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "So I have heard." "He is still with you, I presume?" more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done