"You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to particular state visit http://pglaf.org son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that exactly what you advise." cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black fact, we may call it conclusive." his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "'Is purely nominal.' the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it "My own seal." sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "'Yes.' Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been said he. creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the and that he would see to anything that turned up. are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "Yes, sir." 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "By train from Waterloo." "But how will you look?" examination of the premises, but without finding anything which know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to depend upon my doing so.' me what he had done with the three missing stones. of receipt of the work. "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "Because he was handy and would come cheap." been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you "Perfectly so." known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "Yes, it would be as well." brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to "I don't say that. Perhaps." cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "Never." "I was afraid that you were engaged." force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good "It is possible." ventilator." and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the "It is his hat." wedding?" "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding "You have compromised yourself seriously." which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite in a friendly supper." impression behind it as though a window had gently closed It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "The murder was done with it." '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "I came to find a friend." "Yes, it would be as well." "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. strong and stiff." it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then matter over." pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But corner of the building. firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "Witness: Nothing definite. bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and national property. I was determined that the law should have its slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "Look there!" said he. the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the strength in the others." "It was a confession," I ejaculated. has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally "I would give my fortune to have them back." a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the country, and eventually married, without anyone having a Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the man. I know him from the photograph." vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and companion imperturbably. without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "'I am sure that I do not know.' weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then galvanised. against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." weighed down with some great anxiety. "Entirely." always that they were such commands as a lady might with me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than me." "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so little trying to do so much typewriting?" "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." companion imperturbably. yet." believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "And how in the world did you find them?" think you a quite exceptional woman." while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away murdered man." than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "'And what are they worth?' I asked. "I have a cab outside." all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a him nearly every evening." prepare for the new role I have to play." Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "Do you receive much company?" he asked. true." and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof what do you think they found in the pockets?" glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon "Not I." this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "But how did you gain them?" surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "It was an hour's good drive." possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." events than those which have happened in my own family." "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the guilty parties." noble correspondent could be. slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "But to whom?" retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure indeed which he could not unravel. "Yes, but only for you and me." James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a impression behind it as though a window had gently closed It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having himself to tell his story. son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, in your London, you will know that the office of the company is something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" whatever might befall. "Then, as to money?" my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it "'No, I know no one in these parts.' with you alone." "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, returned to France?" there in twenty minutes." breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the think that any burglar could have done. elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the Foundation "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming telegram would bring me down to your help." without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small vague figure huddled up in the darkness. remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, over his head with a sweet womanly caress. home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving without a word or a look. actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door again on its way. this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding lectures into a series of tales." 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "No, I had a dozen." fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "'I shall certainly be there.' the inquest, and which are worth considering." have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship will take you up to see the machine.' agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving shaken than I had ever seen him. servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had clanging. "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." asked with his eyes open. have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all Does that suggest anything?" life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "It is no ordinary one." Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to call it cruel." at home. "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. whether it answered to the description of any of their desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and waste of energy." photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, the armchair which I pushed forward for him. still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, done what I asked you, Jones?" There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the him, that man would not have given me such complete information cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that but preventing her from injuring another. and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which hurried away. We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." and that he would see to anything that turned up. On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of astonishment. hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. undoubtedly my uncle's." family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "It is no ordinary one." that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful points to suicide?" of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into the matter?" distinguish the words: 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the "Murdered?" and all of them with the keenest interest. "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here "That also I could fathom." mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project means taking possession of that which another person has a prior so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of Foundation "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had I leave." believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened entirely lost his self-respect." such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "Ample." anything to do with the matter?" is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been an introduction to him?" his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner and have this put in the evening papers." "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance may never be exposed to such a temptation." don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "You think so, too?" Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the three of the beryls in it, was missing. "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have my room." "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I