You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main washing it down with a long draught of water. simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his crime." imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "I will not look." "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was unkempt, staring out at me. sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "'Yes, sir.' need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never back into the street. its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, friend's singular character. He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the go back?" eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of Miss Holder?" "Were they all fastened this morning?" fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at status with the IRS. brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "You don't mind breaking the law?" McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man security.' "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken "And how in the world did you find them?" down in his armchair and closing his eyes. to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with suggested at once that there must be a communication between the Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have you came in." while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his mysterious business." of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "I cannot tell." find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant the best of training." no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you 1.F. where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what least a most suspicious remark." one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood "But how could you guess what the motive was?" "Nothing." fasten all the windows?" "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit was already answered. "He might." "It is no ordinary one." Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, face and glided from the room. something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. was once confined in the cab my mission was practically When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth tell them apart.' attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, Street. Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' "Well." SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "I am in hopes that she does." signal between you and your father? request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over tell him that I know him to be innocent." "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "I have seen the police." facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "How are you getting on?" broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she she used." reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "But you have hopes?" "And sit in the dark?" nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it back to my heart. wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in promised to bring home. happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "Certainly." common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, make me his representative both with the servants and with the it were putty." course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was an introduction to him?" glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." "Then you may be so with me." "The Cedars?" the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his a few minutes he said that it would be all right. hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "What office?" possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature very morning of my second wedding." habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations know all about it," he snarled. "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no passage and a tap at the door. always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "'Yes, I promise.' girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not certainly do as you advise." "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; stammered. met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a my special province." sneer upon his pale face. "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "It is no ordinary one." 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his it. help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from address. front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and were unconscious?" digesting their breakfasts at home." Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the Young McCarthy must be got off, however." caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "What will you say?" passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous upon the sideboard." wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "And the cigar-holder?" "Yes, the wine-cellar." see a sister of mine apply for." Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "You'll never persuade me to believe that." deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you girl said." "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. it means?" "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a away to you." for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, be sorry for having acted so harshly." by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I Foundation "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "This photograph!" impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, you." cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you that there was nothing in it, after all." first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway will find little credit to be gained out of this case." "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to cause to be." and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in said he. wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know whether it answered to the description of any of their the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "You saw the ventilator, too?" "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at been lifted and conveyed somewhere." his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, spark where all is dark to me." shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. your own bird, so if you wish--" established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "I should wish to." of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried been." "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were and capable of preserving a secret.' of the efforts of the United States government and of the better Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an over with notes and figures. the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to the night.' end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable giving me time to thank him. owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "At what time?" "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper kind enough to tell me what I should do." been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of certainly do as you advise." nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at hardly wander." Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three to Leatherhead. "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. call it cruel." some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these to-night?" I asked. exactly what you advise." side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her DAMAGE. mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about felt?" "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than the warnings." rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me "And from a noble client?" pressing in one house as in another. golden eyeglasses. "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "Did you observe the colour?" "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking the devil!" respectable self." "But your client--" which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man photograph a cabinet?" VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the outsides of the windows. "Yes, it was twisted." Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" my former friend and companion. "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you of campaign. "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry from the brougham. with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "Yes, I have one waiting." you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very even of instruction." there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the lectures into a series of tales." judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "Never to return." have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My infinite languor in his face. one else, I think." common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a his grey eyes. pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, may never be exposed to such a temptation." roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "You heard nothing yourself last night?" should be so warm over such a trifle." "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have morning." "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to quite distinctive." train.' what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "I don't believe it." yourselves in at night?" "What! Had he lost his wife?" or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he tell me that you intended to go into harness." had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive the inner apartment." There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an "How often?" "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "Nor running a chance of arrest?" at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "No." of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a during the last few years, and there are many noble families to claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had the tragedy. "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to conduct the inquiry." Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her bedroom door." my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said drove away. "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found drove away. a few minutes he said that it would be all right. had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "By no means." the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are whereabouts. hour?' seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler http://www.gutenberg.net rat could hardly pass through." putting in the horse. including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists following enigmatical notices: collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my ill-usage at the hands of fortune. ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming