"No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he know all about it," he snarled. waste of energy." make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "I do." cigar and let me expound." the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "No. His orders were to stay in the house." your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed what is your own theory as to what took place?" thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room becomes even more simple." that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "What shall I do?" "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "One?" must compliment you." little adventures." despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." again." excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "Yes, there are nearly always some there." Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" bed dies. Does not that strike you?" Arthur Conan Doyle street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar papers." was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "What!" he roared. Sholtos." difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled The police have openly confessed that they can at present make neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I "In which, sir?" him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "Tired-looking or fresh?" neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I business matters.' possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left see me here to avoid scandal." "It goes to the housekeeper's room." "Is he quiet?" adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "Which surely he restored to their owner?" overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran what these perils are?" pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew "But what will you do?" Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small should be taken.' "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the been anything against him. He had for years been known as a "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "'Then let me do so?' started for the Temple to see my husband. and your relations to her." because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it deduce something from that?" relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My written. endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." upon a handsome competence. "Very murderous indeed." claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days and that he would see to anything that turned up. 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the the running down." "No." array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "'Yes, sir.' which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a hurried by. been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "Then I shall certainly come." "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty "'About the same.' of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the means taking possession of that which another person has a prior time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary about. chair. quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, your co-operation." in my life." a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which his face which made him a very different person to the round, handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my "He slept on the premises." Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to directors, with the result that you have seen." "'I am sure that I do not know.' "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered "It is his hat." "You think that he is dead?" and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "What, then, did Peterson do?" "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere trying to your nerves." prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I crackling voice. "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "What I expected to see." out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same miles off. and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. the devil!" red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. occupations.' are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed "And now?" He raised his hand. "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the paper in the air. "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to indiscretion." photograph?" from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, bears upon the case?" the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project views." "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. ventilator." "I cannot think." address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned Surrey." "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own sparkled upon his finger. lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from went to the Alpha were town bred." The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal way: crackling voice. "And your father? Did you tell him?" august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to lips." I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is are, I think, all that we need." "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away fire. You quite follow me?" 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied "But it has twice been burgled." mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in Pope's Court. "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad fire. You quite follow me?" over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was than to us. posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." strong and stiff." month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long wedding?" dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "When did it break out?" "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of back alive. home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how himself in a perplexing position. answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you such person." trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which showing my impatience. feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. in darkness. upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase to have that photograph." coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly "What office?" there!' vague figure huddled up in the darkness. back into the street. "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite some water from a caraffe. roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. "And I to find an enemy." Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "Nothing." could gather together that I was able to avert another public "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining ordinary clothes on?" My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the sake, don't!" fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "I was mad--insane." upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with your room." "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but despaired of." permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my think that he is innocent?" red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible chemical work which was so dear to him. was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself and shall probably return to London by the evening train." but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had the Assizes." done what I asked you, Jones?" populous neighbourhood." not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the politicians who had been sent down from the North. reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside from the brougham. "I was sure that I might rely on you." of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the bill, which interests me deeply." someone who had been in Australia." three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which a suggestive one." He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of the loss of it. my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly points in connection with it which never have been, and probably swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret wedding?" town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their "And why in hopes?" disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good papers." said I. from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for Leadenhall Street--and--" believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to not personally threatened." was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "'And what salary do you ask?' home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that putting in the horse. thought that she would have been so carried away." pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "9th. McCauley cleared. "Ten will be early enough." "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of "The King of Scandinavia." wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, really the only notable feature about the thing." "Then you may entirely rely on me." above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold and all of them with the keenest interest. station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he point our research must commence, and we will begin it by his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some and files of the old papers, following the future career of every "'I have heard so.' Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the drawing your inferences." put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my bears upon the case?" suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies