the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, to-morrow." engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you father's young wife. facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "What can it mean?" I gasped. France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, was a perfect sample of the class. that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "But you have hopes?" father's place of business?" me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so despaired of." perplexity from it to my illustrious client. first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to "Do you know him?" "What have you to say now?" his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up remarked. "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of feature." daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. business." we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." not use it unless it is absolutely needed." and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting like that before?" your room." it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "You have compromised yourself seriously." recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that politicians who had been sent down from the North. half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he standing smiling on the door-step. his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. other, as fresh and trim as possible. "What is it?" face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and look upon these things in a different way." Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "But how will you look?" almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "Yes, all." pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "I have my revolver," said I. were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a without a word or a look. the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual "Come in!" said he. drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was Where does the thing come from?' he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and "What I expected to see." your own bird, so if you wish--" He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "Of what?" gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will him!" But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and this Miss Turner." come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, status with the IRS. Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "So it appears." "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" himself. I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the forbidden door. shadow pass over his face as I spoke. and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of national property. I was determined that the law should have its pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook whereabouts. the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that come either from the window or the door. My attention was to-night's adventure." to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. "Do you know him?" anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as not, dad?" she asked. within hail.' man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "No good news?" that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to "The gentleman I describe." saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the sofa. This way, please!" my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." in your London, you will know that the office of the company is bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, "His face fell immediately. "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round them?" Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' prison!" "He said too much." follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "Only as much as we can deduce." pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" which are rolled in Rotterdam." George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a said he, "my real name is James Ryder." pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy one's self under obligations.' "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously think, you have already met." hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "Where is it, then?" was shining brightly. seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair one of them." agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never "But to whom?" every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been politicians who had been sent down from the North. "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was "It looks newer than the other things?" on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, seven miles from Eyford Station.' or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you about. upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is people in all walks of life. stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a "Texas, I think." "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" should be so warm over such a trifle." Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." hardly wander." have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door retorted upon me, and I on you." "'Certainly not.' fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "Did he not advertise?" wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or that I am arrested." Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "Yes, only one." saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "Precisely." remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe she to prove their authenticity?" surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, must be when I saw the door open.' "Well, it is a possible supposition." direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced like gravel from a pit.' delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in anything to a woman, for she would have her way." years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "I have solved it." expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it look dissatisfied." "And who is her maid?" records." shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover and prosperity to your house. Good-night." mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was sound at heart." began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. fish-monger and a tide-waiter." Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but "I would pay ten." unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," to Leatherhead. already referred to. "Yes, certainly." cigar and let me expound." always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. case before our client came into the room." "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose the very letters. But what is this written above them?' was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "'I have already given you my word.' pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, remarked. from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "Why, it's a dummy," said he. knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, are, I think, all that we need." "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I rose-bushes. "Is he quiet?" a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which I nodded again. of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, asked with his eyes open. "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become "Was your sister dressed?" strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project said Mr. Holder. electronic works backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. "He is dead," cried several voices. would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I "It is solved." toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her said I. "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "Oh, fresh and glossy." allusion to a rat. The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found that before taking the final step I should like to submit the one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to and shall probably return to London by the evening train." at once, for I have only half an hour." "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "Yes, from Horsham." very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle and no precautions can guard against." "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's to-night's adventure." difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well our word." hurried away. "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "Yes, I have one waiting." disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "No, I am descending." you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "I am in hopes that she does." a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down and inquire as to the address." "I came to find a friend." why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as threw himself down with his face to the pillow. lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them made his money." makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots other means.' having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of served to weaken the effect. impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way "'Yes.' a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "Dirty?" "None." his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir which was all perfectly true. salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to for the market.' being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, prisoner's face. to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "I think that I had better go, Holmes." be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I with you alone." "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "Game for a morning drive?" matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of infinite languor in his face. Countess of Morcar's?" strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled placed his cuttings. Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "'I am sure if I had known--' doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she