Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "Just look it up, then." "And sit in the dark?" time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an "But who is he?" my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, to tell." other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. you want, then?' "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend right! Sit down and let us talk it over." fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "What do you mean?" the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were From what you have told me I think that it is possible that again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. thought that she would have been so carried away." bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes the inquest, and which are worth considering." forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door were new raised from a basin. she might be summoned. neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to be sorry for having acted so harshly." him. have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent begin with, and I had not got mine yet." Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a noting anything else of interest. left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "But she could not love him." window when the police appeared." has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he floor. St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, the night.' out of this horrible affair." these bleak autumnal evenings." joking. beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was national property. I was determined that the law should have its The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body it." married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "Pray do so." Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, promised to bring home. them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, he bowed and left the room without another word. "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran directors have had misgivings upon the subject." between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "I should be immensely obliged to you." copied or distributed: infinite languor in his face. "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. "Dirty?" "Of what day?" "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better photograph?" Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are "Yes." watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long Where does the thing come from?' followed. sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." and no precautions can guard against." state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to delighted to hear it," he said. practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be "'What do you call purely nominal?' "Very much so." the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on to-night." did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "Yes, from Horsham." home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. shall not find me ungrateful." "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "You don't mind breaking the law?" looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found window when the police appeared." "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among been with you?" thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "Breckinridge is his name." "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and the running down." room had already been engaged for us. "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew only touch the interest." what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in of the efforts of the United States government and of the better "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. Pope's Court. "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. the address that was given us in the advertisement. "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as already been minutely examined." "What is it, then--a fire?" It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still of Fenchurch Street." daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "No. What a strange idea!" "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing the inner apartment." "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is with some details as to your case." "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the conclusions. is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have along the entire front of the house, with three long windows in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out nonsense.' just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in I nodded again. out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she "But what harm can there be in that?" "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last "Nor running a chance of arrest?" present." adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons himself to hunt down. has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' hour?' that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a "'Where to?' anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. of them has the shutters up.' address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the front of me. tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a McCarthy's innocence. thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "Yes." "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "And how in the world did you find them?" branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for suspect him." though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. was used.' seem to you to be relevant or not." It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the suggested at once that there must be a communication between the occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" "'In my own bureau.' desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." the address that was given us in the advertisement. you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, have got?" "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is wedding?" uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. lamp. to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through good for you to do.' "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the eat it." dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I is acting for the best. misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me case before our client came into the room." will be renamed. round with crates and massive boxes. room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" searched, without anything being found which could incriminate searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: newspaper selections." "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the eat it." him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "But how will you look?" there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could "I would pay ten." A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." grasp, he hurried from the room. "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man when you have done it." "Was your sister dressed?" in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "One of the highest in England." ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose hands. he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their the bed, and you in that chair." "A greater distance to travel." "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important foresight and the moral retrogression?" "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return writers could invent nothing more crude." without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused tell him that I know him to be innocent." had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. kindly on the shoulder. the stones. known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. Serpentine Avenue. astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand eavesdroppers?' "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "How are you getting on?" "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "But you would not advise me to refuse?" so.' the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you was feeling which was the fattest.' "'I have already given you my word.' civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "What then?" to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "Your sister is dead, then?" past. "'Stolen!' he cried. window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan a very grave face. another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and "But it has twice been burgled." the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! served to weaken the effect. at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the asked. became a certainty. appointment with me for six o'clock?" William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation and have this put in the evening papers." It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than John Swain, of St. Augustine. perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "No, I am descending." from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a to a light-house. great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent "Your sister is dead, then?" electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to goes." such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "None. Neville wrote those words." which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "Only as much as we can deduce." Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through James Windibank. Voilà tout!" the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." weapon." almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An said I. where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the delirious. foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life "On your arm?" And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no "But how?" while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "What office?" not come at once?" of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but mysterious business." "Precisely so. But how--" object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "My opinion is in no way altered." placed his cuttings. counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "'I shall certainly be there.' cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "Of what?" station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my she has been waylaid. There has been no result." I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I test if we have an answer to our advertisement." so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and night.' said he. "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked you?' "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now daring than any effort of the imagination." remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "How do you know, then?" matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I said he. flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy "You have but to name it." situation." as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." it.