saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in arrangements." the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." interest. They are important, you understand, without being during which he might have communicated with his friend the the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own once more on the important position which you have been fortunate Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more Foundation far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "Do you know him?" hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United "No sign of it?" appeal." last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the "So I have heard." 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this upon the sideboard." a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like the date of his supposed suicide." younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this "Pray let us have it, for all that." salesman. "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting retorted upon me, and I on you." "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. "Have you her photograph?" his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot "Well." so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." could gather together that I was able to avert another public THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "And I to find an enemy." indiscretion." "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. tell me that you intended to go into harness." knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "Nothing?" shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I "But she will refuse." Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the once more to my work. had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the business?" her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the constraint." saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see triumphant cloud from his cigarette. manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue the house with me." of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. lost his Christmas dinner." weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his remarked. grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "But she could not love him." "Where did you address your letters, then?" crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." "Do you go out much in society?" a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "Then you may entirely rely on me." There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to present." a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the suddenly upon us." day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most dramatic, in fact." Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his whatever might befall. "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other Munro.' "Where is it, then?" young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if Street. came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little vault. "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and in your London, you will know that the office of the company is surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave lumber-room." to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." held up the lantern and gazed about him. own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend this Miss Turner." I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "'Yes, it was gone.' slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from matter over." whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at "He said that you could solve anything." even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon thin, with a long, sharp nose?" as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If purpose of examination. "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the where we are going." "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or think that he is innocent?" most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "But she will refuse." I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the brought there to personate someone, and the real person is fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "ARAT," I read. "'What, the red-headed man?' people in all walks of life. respectable self." "I am about to be married." something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." closely." "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "He said too much." fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for of fine shops and stately business premises that they really alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, o'clock is it?" in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "Yes." and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very bird of prey. "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "'Never,' said I. that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "Was there a secret marriage?" known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had back alive. more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban directors, with the result that you have seen." study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I business in the City. She little knew what. presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his soul! here is her carriage at the door." "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his "One of the highest in England." companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own them?" "On Monday." Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, Again Holmes raved in the air. all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "Yesterday." down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each the window, rose as we entered. Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a bedroom door." "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty figure." this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had were new raised from a basin. "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to colonel looking down at me. "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my spark where all is dark to me." few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent written. dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two shoulder. dead, shall be safe with us." "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. seem to you to be relevant or not." including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "Perhaps we may make them less so." down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "'Certainly not.' It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "'Most admirably.' Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant The note was undated, and without either signature or address. Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow "So I am. Very much so." ago." either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. "In San Francisco, a year ago." in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he public press." his forehead." What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." grasp, he hurried from the room. You can understand that this register and diary may implicate can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to beyond words. large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." unclasping of his long thin hands. the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A the coronet at all injured?" to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "And sit in the dark?" finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was three of the beryls in it, was missing. place of silver." "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "It is his hat." devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. go back?" "Dark enough and sinister enough." desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should Doctor, of the paper and the date." your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it begun to whiten, even as mine has." purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a constraint." "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to o'clock is it?" Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, occurred." doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and "Entirely." "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his province." summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still "'Most admirably.' His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders main points of my analysis." Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak "My photograph." "Witness: I must still refuse. that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "'Where could I find him?' disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I John Swain, of St. Augustine. "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock round with crates and massive boxes. very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed questioning and rather startled gaze. "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek skylight. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "That you are never beaten." to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I the one as in the other." the coroner come to?" after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the "May I see it?" we went to search for him, face downward in a little "Yes, I have one waiting." sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and "I promise," said Holmes. his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the "At what time?" "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the John Swain, of St. Augustine. "The rest you will leave in our hands." dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in yourselves in at night?" remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, some terrible trap for her." your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the voice, changing her seat as requested. who was a member of your goose club." "Yes." silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" paper in the air.