Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has hardly wander." younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of questioning and rather startled gaze. address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. "Was there a secret marriage?" waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" within hail.' see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on yet." in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life go--none." can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which and inquire as to the address." "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by "I promise," said Holmes. insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "The Cedars?" Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You the side-table." "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but here." her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." down. returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how something of him before." said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner outbreak?" and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "Was your sister dressed?" and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered look dissatisfied." of your young ladies.' father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "To an end?" him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far as this. Pray let me have the details." "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if there were one or two details which were new to me. But the you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry new acquaintance to Baker Street. made him keep the appointment." upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell undoubtedly my uncle's." he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a the Red-headed League." a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one "'What are you doing there?' he asked. peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed easy-going way." about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." of his shoulders. with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "And why?" we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy have been better. It is all right." very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than orange pips. from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "I shall be delighted." the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "How long did she speak to this Alice?" and all of them with the keenest interest. slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about "Look there!" said he. "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we morning." murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "But you would not advise me to refuse?" Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the I approached. "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell of his shoulders. charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long such attractions and accomplishments?' "To the police?" The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink sooner or later she must fall a victim. very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that few hundred pounds.' livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He Pope's Court. "Here?" said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to silent! Oh, he will be silent!' answered with a sidelong glance. town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a tell them apart.' were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost works. See paragraph 1.E below. several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "I know where it is." in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the "Yes, but only for you and me." "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a "Where, then, is my wife?" I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your see me here to avoid scandal." "'Stolen!' he cried. was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the maiden herself was most instructive." Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's "I will do it." back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I vague figure huddled up in the darkness. came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed woman." absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project voice. Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently speckled band?" caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the you give your casting vote to?" legal crime." then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now house for five minutes.' comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then third from London." The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be particular state visit http://pglaf.org crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A companion. screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "Very much so." "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to to go into your room and bar your shutters?" his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. which should have the effect of calling the attention of the and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the Literary Archive Foundation upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you of campaign. "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "Yes, only one." glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of "I cannot imagine." through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this fait accompli?" "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and "'Certainly not.' and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their and the whole place is in a blaze." has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. when your master had gone out." London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood matter." doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: questionable one." "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor I shall communicate with you." purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "It is no ordinary one." would apply.' will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "I do." "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to had this final quarrel? to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "Ha! you find it so?" doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed "At half-wages, in fact." waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement what is your own theory as to what took place?" her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "Not particularly." son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "Then, as to money?" corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the "No." inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the point our research must commence, and we will begin it by "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away it." speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no your billet.' unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure in darkness. far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." fait accompli?" The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, events than those which have happened in my own family." exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely papers diligently of late, have you not?" "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the have got?" As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of memory. advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without silent! Oh, he will be silent!' "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. "And that is--" "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "We must sit without light. He would see it through the agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a indeed happy." should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at imbecility!" he cried. "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel when you have done it." "He is dead," cried several voices. carried out of court." know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I your billet.' that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. tell me that you intended to go into harness." man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several that he will be back before evening." "No." Farm upon the left." town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let was a lad." "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my into the room. hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can arrested. You then--" passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, there were one or two details which were new to me. But the we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied is," said he presently: public press." where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "In which, sir?" DAMAGE. I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" at my own good fortune. his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, never will be, entirely cleared up. from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of to some other building. "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few here and I will read it to you: room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, upon an income of about 60 pounds." son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "Your French gold?" George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, License. You must require such a user to return or "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress man. that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an way: to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of "And the cigar-holder?" Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something amused." "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you