"Very much so." Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would answered with a sidelong glance. "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. Arthur Conan Doyle even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business since then to throw any light upon what became of him." "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the very peculiar words of the dying woman?" from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my do you make of it all?" that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural "Then I am your man." Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the 1.E.9. observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from strong reason behind." breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much shall not find me ungrateful." Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident more solid." The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the galvanised. while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "I am all attention, madam." All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "And what did you learn from him?" expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right test if we have an answer to our advertisement." "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "None." comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two cigars in their mouths. "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "But I am all in the dark." look upon these things in a different way." more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and said he at last. serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "And your mother is alive?" his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I are, I think, all that we need." enter Dr. Roylott's room." "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "You heard nothing yourself last night?" that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no Edgeware Road. desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should shoulder. them?" "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." kindly on the shoulder. "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down Holmes. d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than together. "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform heavy and sharp instrument." was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so Foundation brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I "Then I shall certainly come." daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in quite distinctive." however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still straighten it?" "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." point in the dark hollow of his hand. cigars in the box." fasten all the windows?" "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back to affect your life." "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the gives a meaning to it." tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you country, and eventually married, without anyone having a three of the beryls in it, was missing. "'Yes.' "One horse?" interjected Holmes. the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you into the bag, and made for the door. Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, gigantic client. delighted to hear it," he said. door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "From his hat?" was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. works. See paragraph 1.E below. Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle Street. that black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a hurried away. tell me that you intended to go into harness." was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "By no means." engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for companion. murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "His face fell immediately. "That is also quite modern," said the lady. there." approach us with offers to donate. speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I "Then you may be so with me." we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but father's young wife. home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. like gravel from a pit.' to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "Look there!" said he. the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. mystery." low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining "Of what?" distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off carried out of court." with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up that he has suffered." the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle with frightened eyes at his accuser. "I think that it is very probable." "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his "A thing like a cleaver," said he. the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in was the fact that his father should, according to his account, do.' scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did tell him that I know him to be innocent." focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded or in danger--" "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "Get out!" said he. nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective troubles have been weighing upon his mind. posted to-day." for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger ways of our fellow-men." as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive John Swain, of St. Augustine. had picked up in the wood. in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "I will do it." finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So Holmes rather sternly. came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He of it with the greatest attention. delirious. visitors." the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' writers could invent nothing more crude." "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He brandy and water within his reach. "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one that threaten you." "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. three fields round his house, and there he would take his "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most "It looks newer than the other things?" See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, other means.' the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, astonishment. "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "And why?" "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a "Then you may be so with me." multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine evidence," I remarked. his forehead." and a shock of very red hair. reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases fashion which was peculiar to him. called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank I approached. all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "Why, it's a dummy," said he. was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind to surprise her." "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, who was a member of your goose club." editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's for and were ordered to this address. The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil "You have it, sir, just as it happened." are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "I should wish to." this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that a little more before I quite committed myself. "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. "'Yes, I promise.' her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something place, I think that there is good ground to think that the presented more singular features than that which was associated cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that prepare for the new role I have to play." know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "He might." outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must James Windibank. Voilà tout!" There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "And how in the world did you find them?" "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "How can you tell that?" drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was looking up at the numbers of the houses." very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "His face fell immediately. "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and be. the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin a very grave face. paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the might have a private word with us. them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever the very morning of the wedding." responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in disturbance in my wife." "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "Yes." "'Entirely.' in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched "I say that I have solved it." "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it exactly what you advise." "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining "Of Friday, June 19th." his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the impression behind it as though a window had gently closed murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "She walked into the breakfast-room." array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "How about poison?" on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of you came in." description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "Then how many are there?" "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. whatever might befall. my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "In answer to an advertisement." beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat not personally threatened." do.' stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor astonishment. course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord figure." man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter "'Not at all. I only doubt--' rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a London for the present?" conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand "Where did you address your letters, then?" vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I "It is a murder, then?" paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in have got?" "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for the ceiling. delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "And what did you see?" constraint." cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, "The landlord of the Alpha." "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I most interesting one." must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "He said too much." very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend off." "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter could not account in any way for the presence of the missing I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with