"You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. eavesdroppers?' paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which crowd. "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! "So I heard. You have him here?" Sutherland?" itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "Not particularly." casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring "On the contrary, this is the right side." and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune address. total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "That sounds a little paradoxical." "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall which it had come upon my father." adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both What do you deduce from it?" analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a infinite languor in his face. not come at once?" photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." "My dear Holmes!" ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "No more words. Get out!" eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their anything to do with the matter?" to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "Only as much as we can deduce." I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just to that open window." not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for to me. main points of my analysis." "The rest you will leave in our hands." "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with been able to understand it, in a very few words. the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined one else, I think." will he say when he returns?" the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing kind enough to tell me what I should do." that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed promised to bring home. "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "By train from Waterloo." has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would go back?" confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of "I will not look." "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing if I call to-morrow?" at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away "And how?" "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent tightly behind him. drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without your room." branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "Come in!" said Holmes. received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his opportunities to fix the problem. "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "Dirty?" hardly wander." that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his if I call to-morrow?" was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "What do you mean?" the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "'Yes, sir.' "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of "And Irene Adler?" footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out "'Stolen!' he cried. along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you highroad, where all traces were lost. relief. photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that you, my dear young lady?' greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a lectures into a series of tales." desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent "That is not always so easy." answered with a sidelong glance. carried out of court." and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "Did your wife hear all this?" The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out signal between you and your father? authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "She showed me, as I told you she would." the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "None." very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you in this way: got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can "Ten will be early enough." "No legal papers or certificates?" He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen telegram would bring me down to your help." you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his habit of advancing money.' said he. little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the one of them." beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "And how?" so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" bird of prey. be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and visitors." glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "What then?" total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "Do you go out much in society?" little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "That also I could fathom." pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I upon the white wrist. pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office some water from a caraffe. TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and subject to the trademark license, especially commercial my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked constraint." past. inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, "Entirely." "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "You don't mind breaking the law?" "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "Then, how do you know?" "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, wife's character?" sound at heart." I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and be. every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we and the colonel ushered me in. late." Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of "So it appears." "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "But we can't all be." face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but evidence," I remarked. There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is sit on the left-hand side of the driver." assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she into the room. all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it shaken than I had ever seen him. the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It What do you deduce from it?" signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally always that they were such commands as a lady might with the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed head. So long, then!" constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, things are very often connected not with the larger but with the like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. in one or two places in England?' Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford "Not him." there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and think you a quite exceptional woman." "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "I cannot imagine." "Dr. Becher's." to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." outside." a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, morning." remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. "It was a confession," I ejaculated. 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set "And I say east," said my patient. it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and this Miss Turner." unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course families. Now for the facts. realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your despaired of." buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "I should wish to." "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to room had already been engaged for us. wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw "'And the work?' He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that felt the room to be a little close.' across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the most important business. It is probable that he will be away all he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, information in his hands the value of which he did not himself your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful retorted upon me, and I on you." in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. yards of it?' wedding?" "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "How did you trace it, then?" "But you were on a friendly footing?" the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. stood on the top of it. have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to nonsense.' I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, "If I can be of use." interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, all-comprehensive glances. pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." electronic works "Has he come with you to-night?" "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his putting in the horse. Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads entirely devoid of interest." I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I "Entirely." homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten of Fenchurch Street." some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your "Was the window open?" naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice keep the flames under. "Well, but China?" inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy light and attacked it." into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "Yes." always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "What then?" formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to tightly behind him. and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my "You know me, then?" and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in stepfather?" "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that "I don't say that. Perhaps." "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had hands. disturbance in my wife." husband's writing, madam." way: visitors." without a word or a look. straightened it out again. several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an my friend's incisive reasoning.