weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the or other trace. But how on earth--" notes," he said. it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "And the cigar-holder?" the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the happened." of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we through." of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a married her." lips." Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first with some details as to your case." give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "Absolutely?" "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the minor matters until to-morrow." business matters.' that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "Absolutely none." "One of his hands." "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. you, my dear young lady?' feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever swore that no one else had been in the front room during the presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" "Yes, sir." their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would learned something! Where are the gems?" "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "What! a murderous attack?" should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "My stepfather's business papers." play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "Yes, only one." "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the "You were travelling in the States?" has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "In the cells." in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand breakfast." breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at been with you?" same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the occupations.' "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "It was an hour's good drive." "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' your troubles." was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I and the whole place is in a blaze." of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. the inner apartment." "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "But I am all in the dark." stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "If I can be of use." and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, standing smiling on the door-step. developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over was not a bird to be seen there. second window is the one that I jumped from." "May I see it?" The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any galvanised. Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "Which are?" work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I returned to France?" know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "'And the work?' out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that "What have you to say now?" for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position heavily into it. "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the very morning of my second wedding." of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will it." self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to "It is very kind of you." his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, minor matters until to-morrow." "Perfectly so." without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance green of the new foliage. charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in the coronet in his hand?" The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon again." slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. rooms." or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' "How did that help you?" Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal "I would pay ten." very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, detective. homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" "And you don't know his address?" Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded had this final quarrel? corner of the building. some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me http://gutenberg.net/license). The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "Certainly, madam." conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His the one as in the other." his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest in his power. "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations Arthur Conan Doyle one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, heavy and sharp instrument." circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared few hundred pounds.' collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other "It is his hat." settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." tell me that you intended to go into harness." fatally injured? than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "Imitated." was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town three of the beryls in it, was missing. chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him instincts rose up against that laugh. the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such "It was an hour's good drive." "I saw her in conversation with her maid." mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "This photograph!" Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "'What, the red-headed man?' and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting frequently gained my first real insight into the character of Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all guilty parties." vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because posted to-day." "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "That is not always so easy." "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite man. and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present Does that suggest anything?" "But your client--" events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and "Then the page we have seen--" pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It was not a bird to be seen there. to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." instincts rose up against that laugh. Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that strong reason behind." noble correspondent could be. Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which have established a very serious case against the son of the silent! Oh, he will be silent!' with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a crime." although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "I don't believe it." nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, Have you good authority for what you say?" very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and trying to your nerves." "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that father's place of business?" completely overtopped every other consideration that we both has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents better grown goose." "The gentleman I describe." "Then you may be so with me." "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a less than 26s. 4d. he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "Not him." stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true then?" attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the Again Holmes raved in the air. address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into "What have you to say now?" narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and "Yes, from Horsham." "Yes, they were peculiar boots." you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "Yes." "Yes, the wine-cellar." "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I "Is he quiet?" He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "No." five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little your co-operation." memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "At what time?" darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot if she died from some sudden fright." without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to into the room. exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "Not social, then?" has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "No legal papers or certificates?" all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the conduct the inquiry." protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little minor matters until to-morrow." open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn tassel actually lying upon the pillow. You want to know what became of those geese?" with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. during which he might have communicated with his friend the farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been observed. be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no the little opening for the ventilator is." the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a fuss that is made over them." brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I throat." "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon down in his armchair and closing his eyes. on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of "Then, as to money?" inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" "'Certainly,' I answered. "What are they?" friend's singular character. third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what compunction about shooting them down." "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have License. You must require such a user to return or though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." it." "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. side. man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." Holmes' thin, eager face. "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "How did you deduce the select?" place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's