I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "The murder was done with it." you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. is four-and-twenty." corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands if she died from some sudden fright." snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "Who was the criminal, then?" comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four said I. Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no it." "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent it with his own hands." I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working as he remarks, very much against the son." madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is other means.' thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon him, that man would not have given me such complete information She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately cause to be." "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper questionable one." "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "It came here." think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, interests were the same as his." "A greater distance to travel." "I will not look." danger is over." dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me examination of the premises, but without finding anything which Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right there!' is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. questionable one." shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to we went to search for him, face downward in a little street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic o'clock is it?" that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making not as remarkable as your advertisement." open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was seven miles from Eyford Station.' "Really! You surprise me." and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." been lifted and conveyed somewhere." full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to said he. exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight some mystery and the punishment of some crime." original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable could go. tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "If I can be of use." at a side door. My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling Pope's Court. effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He speckled band?" and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss "Was she in good spirits?" cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "'I shall certainly be there.' there has been an enclosure here!" constraint." that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to awaited us upon the table. "Thank you. Pray proceed." I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, "Breckinridge is his name." brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and "But you can know nothing of this?" of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you outsides of the windows. money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the empty. the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his "And why in hopes?" focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns seven miles from Eyford Station.' even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, "My stepfather's business papers." great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "'Yes, sir.' "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be mysterious business." whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "The decline of his fortunes, then?" not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the noble correspondent could be. protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, them, and came down just as you departed. through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She taking in every detail of the apartment. "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was "10th. John Swain cleared. the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "Yes." customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." cigar and let me expound." there is a decided draught." reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." simple cases which are so extremely difficult." what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully congenial hunt. distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "Do you go out much in society?" from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A "Certainly, madam." voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but "They are typewritten," I remarked. summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the and all of them with the keenest interest. by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an on in his house." It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his tension within him. "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I or other trace. But how on earth--" luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are pictures, libraries, or plate. acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. crime. "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my tear off another piece?' immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my "Tired-looking or fresh?" "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "There are none." money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third excitement. array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin come either from the window or the door. My attention was "Pray do so." examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, upon a handsome competence. a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "That is not always so easy." "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "I should wish to." way in." have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or confronted him. only touch the interest." sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. of note-paper. It read in this fashion: being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. "Yes, only one." attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." ran thus: but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, giving me time to thank him. assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." indeed which he could not unravel. "And I say east," said my patient. reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't in one or two places in England?' "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "Certainly, madam." to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a affair. wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I said I. halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe unprofitable." James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical "Never." from the brougham. The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a jewels which you have stolen?' however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "Then how many are there?" envelope. Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "But you have hopes?" would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the think that he is innocent?" "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "Look there!" said he. think that any burglar could have done. and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. touch that coronet?' to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, "I guessed as much." make me his representative both with the servants and with the "It missed him, then?" "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "'Why that?' I asks. well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. "I don't believe it." would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. mysterious business." "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. now. It seems that there had been some informality about their liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him some mystery and the punishment of some crime." something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, bird of prey. glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign who was a member of your goose club." lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from danger is over." is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "I am to be neutral?" "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside "Yesterday." that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "What shall I do?" "Did your wife hear all this?" above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole you." stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A she might be summoned. ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us front of me. from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and results." "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal "Come in!" said Holmes. woman who has had her own way to make in the world. seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a occurred." astonishment. case before our client came into the room." we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "A call for help, you thought?" "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. "Come in!" said he. "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "And when will you call?" were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said to-morrow." individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are "An enemy?" really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock best detective that ever lived. impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel guilty parties." lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then,