presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "The King of Scandinavia." to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be bore every mark of being an average commonplace British emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another before the coroner and the police-court." the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "We must sit without light. He would see it through the It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of way in everything. "But who is he?" one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly one else, I think." "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; undoubtedly my uncle's." face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "Never." said he at last. remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, stalked out of the room. tell me that you intended to go into harness." purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the some terrible trap for her." stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We writing, and yet I know it well." "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was was a lad." bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "I shall be delighted." which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "It is very kind of you." "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. "To ruin me." understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "It's nothing of the kind." "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "The knees of his trousers." no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help back alive. Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my "'What would be the hours?' I asked. straightened it out again. all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "I never have." "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. followed. them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off address. "No good news?" it. him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his "But who is he?" the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting emerged. "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the business came to an end." one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "The best possible." hereditary King of Bohemia." paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind interest. They are important, you understand, without being Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable American. Then who could this American be, and why should he flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in "And how?" the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "Where to?" "What are they?" round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into tell them apart.' very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a mystery!" slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I held up the lantern and gazed about him. "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" official police." as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. for the market.' signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great events, Mr. Windibank!" of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no or other trace. But how on earth--" request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given points in connection with it which never have been, and probably passage and a tap at the door. tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly ourselves in the office." "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the "It is true that I have been generally successful." look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and new acquaintance to Baker Street. she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on "Precisely." "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "Not yet." in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached certainly do as you advise." round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "Yes, the wine-cellar." "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be me, and I could not think that his explanation of the have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "Not I." down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in said Mr. Holder. "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very generous with you in money matters.' "That is unusual in a young girl." admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have me where it went to?" Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of "Seven!" I answered. other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are and laid it on the table. him, that man would not have given me such complete information was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "But how will you look?" "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son been lifted and conveyed somewhere." companion imperturbably. "If so, much may have happened between." Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just plantation.' have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "Was she in good spirits?" of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "One of his hands." avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off "'You doubt its value?' he asked. "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil congenial hunt. "'Stolen!' he cried. utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "I would give my fortune to have them back." education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the respectable self." in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "Your French gold?" but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, works. his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set ran thus: day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. believe that I should never have any practice at all. grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious said I. brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call tail." beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. at my remark. dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "By no means." "You have carte blanche." been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of to affect your life." legal crime." smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "Pray continue your narrative." remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." "You will not go there first?" in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, at a side door. adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its that before taking the final step I should like to submit the shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my you do it in twenty minutes!' the coroner come to?" "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately round and wave him away like that.' "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City and laid it on the table. age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "'Yes.' electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third problems help me to do so." door?" "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled Mrs. Toller serenely. to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or written. "Game for a morning drive?" "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "I think that it is very probable." weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately was it brought him the coronet? "And the cigar-holder?" Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "Ample." "Certainly, madam." across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "If so, much may have happened between." presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "Never." It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving this as likely?" in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' your only hope of safety." "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near main points of my analysis." "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the "What is it, then--a fire?" Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from retorted upon me, and I on you." married her." been able to understand it, in a very few words. "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "By no means." and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so page at http://pglaf.org "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. business at Coburg Square is serious." arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed chance." "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez the coronet in his hand?" opened the door, and slipped through. fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the whatever might befall. "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." roused himself from his reverie. what is your own theory as to what took place?" "But how will you look?" newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "My last client of the sort was a king." shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "About a month then." thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "Yes, sir." "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy to arrive at through this?" "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of "Why, what do you mean?" you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being your bag." Have you good authority for what you say?" "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, shaken than I had ever seen him. saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting "'I am sure that I do not know.' "Then, as to money?" the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet in. test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am confronted him. The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 promised to bring home. a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "Perhaps I have." lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a be there in time for your coming." interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in burst into a hearty fit of laughter. in his hands." that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed following enigmatical notices: THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his disappearance of the bride.'" great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far "How on earth--" usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room.