they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. clanging. classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect dead, shall be safe with us." intrusion of other matters." this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were persecution?" doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and entirely lost his self-respect." plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of "The best possible." The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that interest. They are important, you understand, without being James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my chamber." "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That bare slabs of marble. "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "Oh, yes, easily." "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, enter Dr. Roylott's room." are, and they are waiting for us." attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, "His face fell immediately. want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we gone before you can get him to hospital." lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself "She will not sell." hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate o'clock is it?" more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' at home. "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at it right.' If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. late." details should find their way into the papers. Inspector "The gentleman I describe." minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." You can understand that this register and diary may implicate "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. "What is it?" his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he should be taken.' "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' you in your example." forehead. he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been official police." in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar weigh very heavily upon my conscience." I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an "What can you not understand?" slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the least a most suspicious remark." here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the front of me. of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were at home. the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what "It was an hour's good drive." and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and present strange and interesting features that it is no easy answer." "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "You have compromised yourself seriously." that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand "Yes, certainly." of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "But you have hopes?" his face which made him a very different person to the round, the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "'Is 4 pounds a week.' of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, "None." himself to hunt down. knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William "Yes, all." thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of "You are all wrong." "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "Your French gold?" younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is is now desirous of getting those letters back." "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I himself to hunt down. particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed one of the states of the Union." Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round "Then what has happened to him?" father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might morning." of his shoulders. professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and photograph a cabinet?" the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue I took the paper from him and read as follows: "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and since then to throw any light upon what became of him." "'A dozen yards or so.' taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged what these perils are?" he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "Come in!" said he. snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, "Precisely." is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of lips." thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "You are certainly joking, Holmes." the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "Was he the only applicant?" to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his highly," said Holmes. "Very. But will he see it?" our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "How did you deduce the select?" being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms allusion to a rat. outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "I assure you that I am in your hands." harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made discontent upon his features. I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "Then I can wait in the next room." "He disappeared so suddenly." front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" certainly not very gracious." any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big lips." "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we ready to-morrow?' take the flies, but not before." "I shall be delighted." "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself have got?" "It is possible." been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous as he remarks, very much against the son." summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just pressing in one house as in another. ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and province." and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had and looked back. ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with "On Monday." "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. fait accompli?" dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "No." turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment You want to know what became of those geese?" in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a gbnewby@pglaf.org skylight. There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin becomes even more simple." a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." wedding?" "It is a murder, then?" "We must sit without light. He would see it through the States. they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some the bed, and you in that chair." "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." "That is also quite modern," said the lady. thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy nothing with him." hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too just ask you whether you had heard it.' out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's electronic works "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as "But what is it you wish?" be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, he bowed and left the room without another word. "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not the morning and make my own way in the world.' had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through Arthur Conan Doyle what I may call a really hard day's work." its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very "Two days later this same performance was gone through under result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than may have an influence upon European history." had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" to Leatherhead. his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. as the one I chose?' side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the fashion which was peculiar to him. my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his I have it here in my museum." not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather ready to-morrow?' appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "'What, the red-headed man?' heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made the Assizes." if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a emerged. "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' served to weaken the effect. "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and name is different." corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "I have come for advice." Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together the bed, and you in that chair." brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was really the only notable feature about the thing." know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as legal crime." and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "No." "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, conclusions. soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." door?" "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common fat-encircled eyes. snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very Sutherland. generous with you in money matters.' "'What do you call purely nominal?' "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life "One?" "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try door?" "In what way?" asked Holmes. a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "And it is--" hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I call you and give you the chance." and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding is worth.' "Imitated." The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open seven miles from Eyford Station.' His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp frequently gained my first real insight into the character of visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his outside. "It is to him that this trophy belongs." must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I all?" I am not easy in my mind about them." "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the in a friendly supper." one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "Two days later this same performance was gone through under seem to you to be relevant or not." is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this "He is dead," cried several voices. Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor third from London." fact, we may call it conclusive." wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said opportunities to fix the problem. "At what time?" to-night's adventure." known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding "But how?" deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you secret." as the one I chose?' green of the new foliage. get the tickets." the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the beg that you will break it off." and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt quite distinctive." had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from digesting their breakfasts at home." an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not some mystery and the punishment of some crime." "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. "Of what day?" my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your