wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able instincts rose up against that laugh. brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. "I was mad--insane." at once, for I have only half an hour." Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all of this gang." "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "Stolen, then." "What can you not understand?" garden below. "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the "A confidential servant?" "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what into the room. He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the him!" relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it that the gas is not laid on in his house?" sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon had a long day." within hail.' noise which awoke you from your sleep?" into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "Nothing." to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this "I am to be neutral?" may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. answered with a sidelong glance. even of instruction." is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have said he. rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are been shamefully used." fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double side. the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main had formerly been in part my own. result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man good for you to do.' cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "I shall most certainly do so." which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble "You have it, sir, just as it happened." Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money the coronet at all injured?" "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "Why? What do you mean?" he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "Then you may entirely rely on me." pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "I would give my fortune to have them back." "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "And the murderer?" License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this questioning and rather startled gaze. "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the the morning and make my own way in the world.' had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it go from here to the Strand." before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in American. Then who could this American be, and why should he well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right "'There is a drive, then?' footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "It looks newer than the other things?" "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the such person." of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It Sutherland?" idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "And what did you see?" "May I see it?" pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. "'Oh, no.' merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did what do you think they found in the pockets?" outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I seem to you to be relevant or not." "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of you for a few hours?" with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." it? Did I buy the geese off you?" better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his the nursery. there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his "What?" unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he shaken than I had ever seen him. world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." Does that suggest anything?" "Did your wife hear all this?" "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this nothing with him." I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us it with his own hands." works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed "What do you make of that, Watson?" how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. child?' and a shock of very red hair. "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his crackling voice. "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" "It looks newer than the other things?" "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man his forehead." "Yes." here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the not fit the lock." One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the pound a week." you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business and that he would see to anything that turned up. along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the power." Sholtos." "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in over here." I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has Pope's Court. "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, beyond words. widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad weighed down with some great anxiety. borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always test if we have an answer to our advertisement." these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of the little opening for the ventilator is." grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with subject to the trademark license, especially commercial it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "Has he come with you to-night?" explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "I warn you that they are very incomplete." it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." forebodings. "What! a murderous attack?" interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social arrested. You then--" who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by tension within him. police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is "I do." that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but But Holmes shook his head gravely. age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: helping a boy to put up the shutters. "'A dozen yards or so.' set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "Holmes, the busybody!" including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. gigantic client. he. need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. tassel actually lying upon the pillow. then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her through." Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your conduct the inquiry." freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would heavy and sharp instrument." the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you "Pray let us have it, for all that." "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a suspect him." said he. "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "Seven!" I answered. "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and might help us?" Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "In San Francisco, a year ago." something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed hands. Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "I have hopes." such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. "Yes." building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "Upon what point?" they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And Street. man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black attention." came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw get her out of the way." had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began "Where did he live, then?" some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "Yes, all." A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own "Only as much as we can deduce." "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. standing smiling on the door-step. a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, "I will not look." lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, not within a twentieth part of the market price." stalked out of the room. "And I." without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, down in his armchair and closing his eyes. footfalls from the street. "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "Nothing." confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked enter into my head. laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "And on what day did he meet his death?" There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls dear old homesteads?" meant." have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the rose-bushes. which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the joking. these bleak autumnal evenings." therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" "Yes." home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official London for the present?" rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to fait accompli?" thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the horse could go." passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent not as remarkable as your advertisement." "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday DISSOLVED. Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must remarked. springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "I would pay ten." stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill business." "That is unusual in a young girl." "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out comes from the middle window." gone. Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in thought that she would have been so carried away." was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business than was visible to me." "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it approach us with offers to donate. considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and upon the shelf for the interim." believe that I should never have any practice at all. for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. sound at heart." near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless light and attacked it." listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak of a light. every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his to some other building. fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" morning." "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, could not have written that. It is the German who is so which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it