"Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" that there was nothing in it, after all." he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "Was the window open?" salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of the night.' matter over." whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. there." "They are typewritten," I remarked. Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "'Never.' or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat and your relations to her." those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a "This concluded the examination of the witness." very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed that you saw all that I did." to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar ran thus: unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting was shining brightly. could not have written that. It is the German who is so "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed until night should bring an explanation. outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your instituted." Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you here." her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a "And when will you call?" of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my way in everything. approach us with offers to donate. boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in this Miss Turner." while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, think that any burglar could have done. "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There the iron safe, which he closed upon it. I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to down in his armchair and closing his eyes. bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my "The doctor?" contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "I was certainly surprised to find you there." total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I but preventing her from injuring another. could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "My own seal." running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the "Quite so. She has her freedom." Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out kindly on the shoulder. in his power. introspective fashion. "That is also quite modern," said the lady. down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and from you?" "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. extraordinary contortions. My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have "To the police?" Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "No." "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. wanted for ourselves." you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second "What is it?" "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "And your father? Did you tell him?" gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine learned something! Where are the gems?" "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" noting anything else of interest. lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it there were so many in the whole country as were brought together the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "What, then?" moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." upon the shelf for the interim." for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no following enigmatical notices: ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he my room." "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not of a light. "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her details." fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at again." I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through key of the affair now." fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with down. "Indeed! Whose, then?" had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the to surprise her." public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold "Why serious?" Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself my little problems." matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If sparkled upon his finger. used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the and no precautions can guard against." and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits "Not in a good cause." made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he 1.F. beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had excitement. "No." beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with chance." "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have the King without delay." confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian "My stepfather's business papers." consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner putting in the horse. (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all case-book, which he consulted. night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my Serpentine Avenue. his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a points in connection with it which never have been, and probably contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary strength." "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as success. child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it front of the hall door has given its name to the place. should be so warm over such a trifle." ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the disappearance of these gems?" McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the them?" low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came seem to you to be relevant or not." "My photograph." used to be." "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands be.' known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that "Nothing." 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "How did you trace it, then?" refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just than to us. look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank later, upon the night of May 2nd." to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to been shamefully used." by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom "'Very good.' misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from "Yes." "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a the address that was given us in the advertisement. "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, fear." myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any "But not more so than I to find you." have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying Countess of Morcar's?" charge against him will break down." common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "Of what?" perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand woman." "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that the King without delay." for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. writer." conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, his face. My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at legal crime." began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my "Yes, but only for you and me." should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which drawing your inferences." Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was records." simple cases which are so extremely difficult." the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about to-night." huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and my former friend and companion. down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my meant it for the best. actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. business came to an end." had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and events than those which have happened in my own family." homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" off." "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking with the outside air!" as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a straightened it out again. "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, "What, then, did Peterson do?" for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the to that open window." against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case villagers almost as much as their master. "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the one's self under obligations.' have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "By no means." and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a cup of tea. swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with here." depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to