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"The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the http://gutenberg.net/license). lost nothing by them." "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the papers on the sundial.'" "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "'Ten to two.' quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "Which are?" "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." see a sister of mine apply for." be best to do. of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare it." Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, "And you thought he was pulled back?" out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "Bought." very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were me. "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about read it out to me." usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "Yes, from Horsham." "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their vault. Holmes. given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was "Yes, all." she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the Sutherland. that, and I came down." gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he which our visitor detailed to us. vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all chamber." "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at "No, I think that I'll take it." "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' my friend's incisive reasoning. to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "Did he not advertise?" he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner this truth that in these little records of our cases which you "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from I am not easy in my mind about them." Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge who was a member of your goose club." master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "Never." probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you is a common subject for conversation. every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "I would pay ten." whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "Here?" "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting in a friendly supper." "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. presented which may be striking and bizarre without being of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for bachelor.' mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran most important business. It is probable that he will be away all depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and himself. seem to you to be relevant or not." charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said has little to do with my story." was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. read over the extraordinary announcement. he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking she has been waylaid. There has been no result." her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me miles off. "No." sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to your only hope of safety." human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very do.' one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a death." Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and sofa. This way, please!" "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "What then?" process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "Certainly, madam." his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he not as remarkable as your advertisement." mystery may be cleared along those lines." way in everything. trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the "That is not always so easy." business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he Foundation knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their "I say that I have solved it." then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "'As governess?' screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that outside. us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' noble correspondent could be. glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted affection." "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if married her." the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed "Witness: Nothing definite. London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "'Oh, no.' his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "You have compromised yourself seriously." the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "One of the highest in England." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as that I may have something better before very many minutes are having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of "Then I can wait in the next room." "You'll never persuade me to believe that." doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," yards of it?' you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every and have this put in the evening papers." values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the of Fenchurch Street." or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit fact, we may call it conclusive." and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and wife's character?" established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very would apply.' "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had "I think that it is very probable." "Not particularly." you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" back to my heart. wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without a few minutes he said that it would be all right. an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this and wait." inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and in darkness. "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "'How far from the body?' now. It seems that there had been some informality about their With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes are windows in it, of course?" railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "Yes?" into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "Come in!" said Holmes. severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of once more to my work. they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a was once confined in the cab my mission was practically position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and generous with you in money matters.' "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "Was the window open?" "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "We must sit without light. He would see it through the other means.' "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" me upon any point which I do not make clear." this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as my friend's incisive reasoning. What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "You think that he is dead?" Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a come either from the window or the door. My attention was you in yours." room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible unprecedented a position." Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from companion. keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed straighten it?" "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into Literary Archive Foundation "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so "How on earth--" The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her "Yes." IS "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. "My last client of the sort was a king." will take you up to see the machine.' "He is dead," cried several voices. about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him here and I will read it to you: to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their "But I have heard all that you have heard." alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." call for it in person on Monday morning.' plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept weapon." and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated even of instruction." the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, Surrey." grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near "Then I can wait in the next room." "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. until night should bring an explanation. who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. go--none." such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, some water from a caraffe. stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, man. as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "None. Neville wrote those words." "Thank you. And your address?" is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "But how will you look?" have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of appeared upon the scene." receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "Not him." "No, thank goodness, she did not." and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me nice household for a young lady." in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "At the wedding breakfast." "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up Pope's Court. said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm our word." "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If seem to you to be relevant or not." knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you forecastle of an emigrant ship. round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, purpose of examination. "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you unprecedented a position." with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," other means.' once more. "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I "Were they all fastened this morning?" breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "What do you make of that, Watson?" street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler infinite languor in his face. light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read followed. wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "'And what are they worth?' I asked. wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "A thing like a cleaver," said he. Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, over here." about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded better in every way that they should make their position a little "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." works. slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, Holmes' room. "Yes, sir." saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "It is solved." empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "It is his hat." the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "In answer to an advertisement." the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year where she found matters as described by the last witness. "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the be there in time for your coming." writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that empty. business." there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of respectable self." the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name "It was an hour's good drive."