have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all there." slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide the Assizes." said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor vague figure huddled up in the darkness. A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "I see no marks." that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" kindly on the shoulder. the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the Does that suggest anything?" Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he himself in a perplexing position. the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must "How did you deduce the select?" Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an system of imprisonment?" long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon "What, then, did Peterson do?" really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my felt?" Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for done what I asked you, Jones?" doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "Yes." assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "So I have heard." How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened in my life." flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate "And I." maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "She showed me, as I told you she would." 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense you found me to-night--and running through the front room she in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. London for the present?" passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a tassel actually lying upon the pillow. pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the presume?" Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. you do it in twenty minutes!' He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening hand, madam?" "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat families. Now for the facts. those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." any little problem which you may submit to me." English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come the coronet in his hands?" high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about front of me. liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its room. existence." bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man might have a private word with us. We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "It is no ordinary one." Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses writer." surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to my friend's incisive reasoning. after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be awkward doing business with an alias." heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. children over to America with him, so that I found myself without money should be paid at once.' A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is Heh?' the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he his grey eyes. "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" "And how did you verify them?" surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in discontent upon his features. "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "But the mystery?" he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "Quite so." "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "And how did he make his money?" the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his room had already been engaged for us. "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the putting in the horse. have had none more fantastic than this." meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at was the fact that his father should, according to his account, "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." outside." roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's woman." "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from test if we have an answer to our advertisement." sofa. This way, please!" not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my my room." the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." be sorry for having acted so harshly." at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, that you wished to speak to me?' tell me that you intended to go into harness." Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now who was a member of your goose club." Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he know all about it," he snarled. INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then disturbance in my wife." mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and highroad, where all traces were lost. "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came What do you deduce from it?" brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the "And Irene Adler?" swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was suddenly upon us." be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, lost his Christmas dinner." you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction confronted him. Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." page at http://pglaf.org companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the colour had been driven from his face. came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case this truth that in these little records of our cases which you little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come "I shall most certainly do so." There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for "It came here." photograph?" the south-west, I see." "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with them?" "'Oh, no.' "I say it is." One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the that, and I came down." crime." jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress matter." "Certainly, madam." the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the business in the City. She little knew what. skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." the stones. Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "You don't mind breaking the law?" near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper night.' said he. to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "What will you say?" the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the presented which may be striking and bizarre without being once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand she has been waylaid. There has been no result." wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "So I have heard." in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." more solid." "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" there were so many in the whole country as were brought together "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to a little more before I quite committed myself. slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I morning." "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be your only hope of safety." is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, investigation." The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "Precisely." "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away name is different." THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his address. of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than "You were travelling in the States?" said I. I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight visitors." and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be on in his house." DAMAGE. "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, conclusions. strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "Then what has happened to him?" works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is made his money." "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the me. formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my "There is the writing." hour?' fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, obstinate." carriage. It was a chestnut." formed some opinion?" doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He very peculiar words of the dying woman?" must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular long narrative. to a light-house. McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a is now desirous of getting those letters back." "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and populous neighbourhood." "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "You have the photograph?" hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' floor. the bed, and you in that chair." until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the "Married! When?" I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the woman who has had her own way to make in the world. Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up voice. family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger and no precautions can guard against." "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' better grown goose." us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "How did that help you?" but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my The events in question occurred in the early days of my "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside "You horrify me!" "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told into the bag, and made for the door. with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from it. "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was papers." shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his I shall continue with my miserable story. nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my confronted him. I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, way in." "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in Edgeware Road. paper in the air. "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you