"'And the work?' and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "A call for help, you thought?" though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "Why, it's a dummy," said he. smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "Do you receive much company?" he asked. go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all friends, not even his own brother. last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and a few minutes he said that it would be all right. chamber." entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. never will be, entirely cleared up. "My private note-paper." until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had "'You cannot say what it was?' mystery!" "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the "She walked into the breakfast-room." hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, the date of his supposed suicide." morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "In the cells." "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "Who was the criminal, then?" its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "No, distinctly professional." thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the orange pips. "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am despaired of." a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person acted in my house last night?" Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. written, and locked the door of the office after me. and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "Very truly yours, very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "It's nothing of the kind." "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." your sleep?' not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear against a man in the prime of life?" in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose whether it answered to the description of any of their Sholtos." infinite languor in his face. hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more "And you don't know his address?" was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found burst out into a roar of laughter. strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, national property. I was determined that the law should have its nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to is," said he presently: Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every and capable of preserving a secret.' that before taking the final step I should like to submit the in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by time." "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or intrusion of other matters." your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "How many? I don't know." "Precisely so. But how--" folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination spare." so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without tell me that you intended to go into harness." it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a pity, because in other respects you would really have done very have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "Yes, that is the Crown." of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here locked." "And how?" humiliation." be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to three fields round his house, and there he would take his "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and of the way of danger. locked." "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as "Then I am your man." when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "BALLARAT." "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "To the police?" "There are none." "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know again." "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense use an arc-and-compass breastpin." that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at "Dirty?" seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or peculiar to him. inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, on in his house." general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "What then?" Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their to change my dress. pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "Did you observe the colour?" bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, away in different directions, and I went off to make my own all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of "And from a noble client?" out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "It certainly sounds feasible." teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a companion. breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. fluttered off among the others. IS me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your legal crime." "Thank you. And your address?" playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very chair. gone. little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers me. "And you can do nothing until then?" "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a with you alone." hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered "'Tell me all about it,' said I. the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall miles off. a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection coat-tails." week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "What can you not understand?" is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do were new raised from a basin. events than those which have happened in my own family." earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can "But she will refuse." "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the before the coroner and the police-court." for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a arms and began to sob in a high treble key. weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting a very grave face. peculiar to him. cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is best detective that ever lived. home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen all?" "By no means." "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be companion quietly. Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." of the efforts of the United States government and of the better "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. "I was mad--insane." "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying second." been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! questioning and rather startled gaze. qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "How did that help you?" push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." the house with me." "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "You'll never persuade me to believe that." explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." I have it here in my museum." congenial hunt. to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a public press." read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have read it out to me." age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "I think that it is very probable." impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window the Assizes." "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a dead, shall be safe with us." "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and assist you in forming an opinion." "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the used to be." was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From likely to be some crony of the landlady's." are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the noting anything else of interest. upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "One of his hands." considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an could not have written that. It is the German who is so to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." works. See paragraph 1.E below. partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, me upon any point which I do not make clear." the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "I should like to see him very much." "It was an hour's good drive." we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of felt the room to be a little close.' The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more empty. among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and "But his left-handedness." red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who Lee, in the county of Kent." severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as families. Now for the facts. carried out of court." deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, of campaign. "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, place no limit on the sum I may draw." at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "And your father? Did you tell him?" borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; chill to my heart. in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An "How did that help you?" my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "Then how many are there?" Miss Holder?" hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That standing smiling on the door-step. matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, touch that coronet?' is acting for the best. "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in woman who has had her own way to make in the world. office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a "But it has twice been burgled." which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon have one." late." his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means "And Irene Adler?" "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. Holmes. me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's happened." before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, him nearly every evening." note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of spare." "And for present expenses?" There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small unprofitable."