"Your reasoning is certainly plausible." like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. the inquest, and which are worth considering." works. say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "VIOLET HUNTER." twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have strong reason behind." "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we meant." down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has "'You cannot say what it was?' ill-usage at the hands of fortune. younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "Entirely." really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of weapon." beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was you found me to-night--and running through the front room she what I may call a really hard day's work." the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, "And why?" no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no think that any burglar could have done. God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "Who by?" "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than know all about it," he snarled. still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "Upon what point?" official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family client, rising. "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and bird I ate is country bred." "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say the Red-headed League." "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an and glanced through. "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss noble correspondent could be. original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole "'What do you call purely nominal?' affair. aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "What, then, did Peterson do?" "Stoke Moran?" said he. address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square man. "But you have hopes?" took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once "Pray be precise as to details," said he. direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. "What office?" "Yes, it was twisted." a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY States. willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "She showed me, as I told you she would." showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this speckled band?" train.' upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked so.' The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am feature." one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head delirious. "Was there a secret marriage?" man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "One of the highest in England." covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of and effective." discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came present strange and interesting features that it is no easy passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and place, I think that there is good ground to think that the http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the and that he would see to anything that turned up. "Then I do not see the point." It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally "'Why that?' I asks. for the market.' son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "Perhaps we may make them less so." fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the "I cannot say that I have." not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, "None." "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' "But you can know nothing of this?" "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's to-night?' Pool. "Yes, only one." he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "Will you go?" name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately to tackle the facts." just ask you whether you had heard it.' "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a she used." month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "Never to return." maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I introspective fashion. future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "And when will you call?" the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not ways including including checks, online payments and credit card open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, appointment with me for six o'clock?" "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally even of instruction." screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," footfalls from the street. "'As governess?' wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to be best to do. "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "I have hopes." In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy "'Tell me all about it,' said I. strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "Were they all fastened this morning?" slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those "What?" fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two to a light-house. thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I suspect him." him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out "'Not at all. I only doubt--' rose-bushes. "Well, it is a possible supposition." reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the "Yesterday." conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still thin legs towards the fire. characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady had a long day." result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project ceremony." "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "One of the highest in England." Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "I am all attention, madam." burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while think you a quite exceptional woman." said I. stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our 'I should be able to look after that for you.' my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in done what I asked you, Jones?" "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that "Precisely so. But how--" You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are success. the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take "'What then?' I asked. had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily and laid it on the table. it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "What!" he roared. was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after was a perfect sample of the class. was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he kindly on the shoulder. possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name page at http://pglaf.org stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to nothing of it?" "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before residence of the great financier. "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and memory. be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this "And what did you see?" will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you be best to do. the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a the King without delay." if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "'I am sure if I had known--' best detective that ever lived. to you." "Why, what do you mean?" American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I where Mr. Fordham shows you.' woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them singular points about the case. What did the police think of the "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not daring than any effort of the imagination." hurried by. Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But Project Gutenberg-tm works. "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and shall use the carriage to-night." the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press enter into my head. occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled passage and a tap at the door. object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me he bowed and left the room without another word. at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is sofa. This way, please!" quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any fatally injured? this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this bachelor.' "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No fishes. middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." look upon these things in a different way." what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or handed it to him. your troubles." neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "Who was the criminal, then?" "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my think, you have already met." leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had "Ten will be early enough." have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. "And why?" International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either sound at heart." "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he "'There is a drive, then?' compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We was used.' go--none." which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "You have carte blanche." "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the just ask you whether you had heard it.' about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. I was concerned in it." "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "And that is--" pity, because in other respects you would really have done very the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for "But you can know nothing of this?" "Were they all fastened this morning?" think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those was already answered. How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "They are typewritten," I remarked. taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on The events in question occurred in the early days of my carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "Pray do so." "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for "Tired-looking or fresh?" "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather "The gentleman I describe." following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people