here." "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "Yes." boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have During two years I have had three consultations and one small few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in long narrative. good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and detained." with you alone." "My opinion is in no way altered." if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the attention." a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an "Yes, sir." "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence "Of what?" gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "And why?" "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no "Murdered?" make me his representative both with the servants and with the Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and "No, thank goodness, she did not." ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he disturbance in my wife." deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would suddenly upon us." table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed speckled band?" of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a remarked. suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" present." All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross lost nothing by them." and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an said he, "my real name is James Ryder." hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's "But how could you guess what the motive was?" his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he "It is a murder, then?" "So I heard. You have him here?" - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I which we had just quitted. we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for the ceiling. "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the I am not easy in my mind about them." "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the only touch the interest." ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was she to prove their authenticity?" predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away purpose of examination. some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped "And why in hopes?" imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though "'I am sure if I had known--' "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. papers must be those that are destroyed.' honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "Awake, Watson?" he asked. your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see nothing with him." which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving as yours." bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. "And the cigar-holder?" contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" in his hands." lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that sentimental considerations in the background which would induce turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "What, then?" might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who locked." which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "Precisely." the night.' clang of the bell. and all of them with the keenest interest. When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so she used." not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from "She told me to ask you." set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your the house with me." the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small late." dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came searched, without anything being found which could incriminate when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I forebodings. collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me together. reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine His name is Francis Prosper." responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a danger is over." about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see cigar and let me expound." telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate yards of it?' but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was enter Dr. Roylott's room." enter Dr. Roylott's room." cup of tea. at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out unclasping of his long thin hands. Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who made his money." call for protection in the marriage market, for the present wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. our word." seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to the bed, and you in that chair." would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that and capable of preserving a secret.' examination of the premises, but without finding anything which and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "Yes, sir." only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, evidence," I remarked. outside. me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my triumphant cloud from his cigarette. shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to to go into your room and bar your shutters?" husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." "I see no marks." prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." my secret was safe in his possession. weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "To an English lawyer named Norton." "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "No legal papers or certificates?" It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." as he remarks, very much against the son." my special province." "That you are never beaten." "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of "Were they all fastened this morning?" long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they shall use the carriage to-night." tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "Well, it is a possible supposition." lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall you." single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "In heaven's name, what for?" wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present "Ah, but I was recommended to you." secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar furiously. "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as annoyance, but no jest. "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned door?" our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were Street. found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely was shining brightly. destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "Come in!" said Holmes. "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love "No." "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "My private note-paper." him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do silent! Oh, he will be silent!' some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "What can you not understand?" "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "No sign of it?" from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "Game for a morning drive?" Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "At the wedding breakfast." and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in which we had just quitted. "Ten will be early enough." thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the putting in the horse. "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite like that before?" and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "Then he might have called to you?" far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just triumphant cloud from his cigarette. another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "I was afraid that you were engaged." rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that fattened it expressly for you.' circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is Leadenhall Street--and--" bird I ate is country bred." done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew "Then, how do you know?" "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and "But you would not advise me to refuse?" now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "What have you to say now?" something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "I am all attention, madam." "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "No, my brougham is waiting." head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to ventilator." and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an as the one I chose?' "I was afraid that you were engaged." been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "My last client of the sort was a king." analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "'Why that?' I asks. "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who stammered. "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "But what harm can there be in that?" manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. "I cannot tell." other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship the coronet in his hand?" the window, rose as we entered. writer." the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could she has been waylaid. There has been no result." weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the good-night and bustled off upon her way. "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood telegram would bring me down to your help." we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this row." followed. "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing characteristics, but those are the more obvious." iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding do.' the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage will be renamed. But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "It may not come to that," said Holmes. Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we father's young wife. lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "By no means." to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the "I shall most certainly do so." "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that best detective that ever lived. style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as to-night?" I asked. ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and standing smiling on the door-step. face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts