one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up ourselves in the office." adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or matters immensely." and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: Watson," he said cordially. was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" "Pray continue your narrative." face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which "And I to find an enemy." said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind "No good news?" "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him extraordinary contortions. detained." received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the there was no need for father to know." certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the stalked out of the room. "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far sentimental considerations in the background which would induce that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, "One of his hands." moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "I cannot imagine." "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." matter over." stalked out of the room. ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "Was there a secret marriage?" "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in and your relations to her." also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." roused himself from his reverie. pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should in him." sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain "'You cannot say what it was?' for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul society." coat-tails." "You think that he is dead?" "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend morning." rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very with you alone." point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. "Deserted you?" Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a ceremony." I am not easy in my mind about them." upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "'What do you call purely nominal?' "Then I can wait in the next room." took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled keep the flames under. I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, only touch the interest." found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and assist you in forming an opinion." own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and "No legal papers or certificates?" confronted him. A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." some mystery and the punishment of some crime." doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms look upon these things in a different way." grasp, he hurried from the room. "And for present expenses?" at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "And I to find an enemy." the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some thin legs towards the fire. imbecility!" he cried. "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the had this final quarrel? and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in your own bird, so if you wish--" the date of his supposed suicide." he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. article?" phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project my little problems." "'Where to?' Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "Proceed, then." sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "My last client of the sort was a king." against a man in the prime of life?" "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "It is to him that this trophy belongs." John Swain, of St. Augustine. however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found call for it in person on Monday morning.' had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time Clair, of Lee." "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America if she died from some sudden fright." "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' cheerful." about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous problems help me to do so." permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague o'clock is it?" "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I "It is a murder, then?" dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much out." "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing shoulder; "he's all right." greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland gentleman's clothes. the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but your own bird, so if you wish--" the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "That is easily got." gone. could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average questioning and rather startled gaze. questionable one." "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and to surprise her." down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the what I may call a really hard day's work." "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that unclasping of his long thin hands. with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." place of silver." flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery which it had come upon my father." "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of individual and becomes the badge of a society." of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we to surprise her." "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door nonsense.' which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his impression behind it as though a window had gently closed like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, "Upon what point?" Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, the tragedy. world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "To ruin me." there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the other lovers by making love himself." "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of him and tried to hold him back. as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. of." upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, "What steps will you take?" I asked. broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a place, I think that there is good ground to think that the battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an "What I expected to see." "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. just ask you whether you had heard it.' his forehead." conceal it?" sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a himself in a perplexing position. Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "Thank you. Pray proceed." "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a article?" foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life know all about it," he snarled. say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "How do you know, then?" address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have 'please.'" Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular see a sister of mine apply for." repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled name is different." "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a I approached. I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "'I shall certainly be there.' the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special something of him before." doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "I have a cab outside." ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that what these perils are?" possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. served to weaken the effect. that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and opportunities to fix the problem. demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "My opinion is in no way altered." "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he back into the street. neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of before the coroner and the police-court." "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but guilty one." where we are going." "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your must be when I saw the door open.' "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he DAMAGE. prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of someone who had been in Australia." this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. will not take me long to tell. "Not yet." I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now "What have you to say now?" "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his tightly behind him. "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" to you." flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the The events in question occurred in the early days of my make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded awkward doing business with an alias." He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, salesman. time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence off." "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must delirious. place, I think that there is good ground to think that the This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "You think that he is dead?" address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he to talk it over. He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has and the church but not where the lady lived." "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises beg that you will break it off." "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "Was she in good spirits?" Mary, has deserted me." the one as in the other." despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "Here?" child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three six. Come in!" lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "It was." examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." or in danger--" "I have hopes." "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' drove away. discontent upon his features. Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be is a common subject for conversation. 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in the window, rose as we entered. Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "Yes, the wine-cellar." dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't must compliment you." in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" rat could hardly pass through." the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp very morning of my second wedding." in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. "And sit in the dark?" hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too