especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "Absolutely none." weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his Pope's Court, Fleet Street." go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." compunction about shooting them down." "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home details should find their way into the papers. Inspector "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your weary and pale-looking. together. Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "Did your wife hear all this?" do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, be there in time for your coming." look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching breakfast and whispered something to her husband. suddenly upon us." day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the there has been an enclosure here!" "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small everything which you would wish to know." neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that four million human beings all jostling each other within the whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their fattened it expressly for you.' heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish It was close upon four before the door opened, and a eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. train from Paddington which would bring you there at about loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I in one or two places in England?' "One of his hands." "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of long narrative. is," said he presently: "What?" the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester John Swain, of St. Augustine. broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be said he, "my real name is James Ryder." broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. examine." number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking to a light-house. upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced one of them." pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To writer." pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the that he has suffered." This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: points to suicide?" surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to "Ha! you find it so?" up this clue while it is still hot." very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your and a shock of very red hair. "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, "But how will you look?" case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number himself to tell his story. chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you thought that she would have been so carried away." following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal "One of the highest in England." parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "One?" been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door mystery!" his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining you for a few hours?" would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much some city in a dream. running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to national property. I was determined that the law should have its to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life trying to your nerves." chance at all." was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my even so self-evident a thing as that." Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; that?' "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. the child." would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the unprecedented a position." "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "You have the photograph?" "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." vault. "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary had no one to advise her at such a crisis." the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now made his money." guilty parties." LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't "I was afraid that you were engaged." it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to happened." "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a and glanced through. which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the been anything against him. He had for years been known as a grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light there were one or two details which were new to me. But the presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There "A client, then?" "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would McCarthy's innocence. might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached lost his Christmas dinner." His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I murdered man." "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some been." came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day married her." for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security such person." several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if the little opening for the ventilator is." so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew way in." exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and chambers. making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "You have a clue?" observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "What are they?" went to the Alpha were town bred." introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "She showed me, as I told you she would." clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. place no limit on the sum I may draw." street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some the one as in the other." "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. and shall probably return to London by the evening train." indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate window when the police appeared." your own bird, so if you wish--" pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "'A dozen yards or so.' together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "And how did you verify them?" "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility I have it here in my museum." village inn over there?" nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the what I may call a really hard day's work." We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez too. first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "I cannot say that I have." "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "In which, sir?" gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," morning." "I shall be delighted." only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been triumphant cloud from his cigarette. Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. constraint." observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a tear off another piece?' one which it was hard to resist. fasten all the windows?" wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. companion. hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening works. woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them point in the dark hollow of his hand. about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "My Mary? Impossible!" lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. straighten it?" were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. and all of them with the keenest interest. bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated opened a pocket-book and took out a note. week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were interests were the same as his." Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as "No, my brougham is waiting." "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My light and attacked it." "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned beyond words. the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there if I call to-morrow?" prison!" and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my face and glided from the room. unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "But she will refuse." zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across better grown goose." your co-operation." centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had own family. window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely believe that I should never have any practice at all. the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "'Then let me do so?' scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as The police have openly confessed that they can at present make in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I yards of it?' the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have to a light-house. to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge carpenter." I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the said I. and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do McCarthy." with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain writer." has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not train.' he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "Certainly." read it out to me." round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which might have a private word with us. "But how could you guess what the motive was?" "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, "Yes, he did." little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He which are rolled in Rotterdam." bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "VIOLET HUNTER." "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he said he. With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it "'I have already given you my word.' downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew events, Mr. Windibank!" steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted have not had my rubber." my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone papers diligently of late, have you not?" correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast comes from the middle window." pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the But Holmes shook his head gravely. "Very much so." but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project