cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "Well." near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp His name is Francis Prosper." uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were appeal." what these perils are?" ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, there is a decided draught." would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen was keenly on my guard against him. could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "None." "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of here." sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate back into the street. call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, place no limit on the sum I may draw." You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked "I know where it is." "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "'As governess?' and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I "Precisely." laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a long narrative. firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which enough to aid us in our search." "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and families. Now for the facts. "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "The landlord of the Alpha." room?" doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is that he has suffered." fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "No, I had a dozen." VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE the coroner come to?" allusion to a rat. it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I to some other building. "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what "She walked into the breakfast-room." "Then the page we have seen--" "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark my room." statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly with you?" see me here to avoid scandal." a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your yards of it?' key of the affair now." "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so said he. his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have I nodded again. "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the "Did he not advertise?" you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "And on what day did he meet his death?" important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call hereditary King of Bohemia." When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "'Yes, it was gone.' just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "My stepfather's business papers." age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, night.' said he. desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "Nearly eleven." Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the "You have compromised yourself seriously." great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far heavy and sharp instrument." Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young "Yes, all." "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" said I. of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "None." off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" entirely devoid of interest." calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously the south-west, I see." through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before "In heaven's name, what for?" invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when was feeling which was the fattest.' once more to my work. without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if most important business. It is probable that he will be away all redistribution. Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have least a fellow-countryman. than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" to that open window." touch that coronet?' out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told compunction about shooting them down." "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple not personally threatened." compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge certainly do as you advise." the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the guilty parties." daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "'No, I know no one in these parts.' voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, deduce something from that?" dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I "I am to be neutral?" too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire not interfere, come what may. You understand?" solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads one's self under obligations.' derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I was lame." to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is "'Which dealer's?' said he. conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced passage and a tap at the door. Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "What can it mean?" I gasped. "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "I will do it." over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that business." doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which asked. give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he the side-table." moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when to go into your room and bar your shutters?" begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to formed some opinion?" beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire charged with?" "Nearly eleven." Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom lids now and glanced across at his visitor. had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the Street. "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On Sutherland. "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and sofa. This way, please!" upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit "But your client--" the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man before, for it was considerably after midnight. "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "What, then?" mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "If so, much may have happened between." face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good figure." "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a http://www.gutenberg.net "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its States. Edgeware Road. states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "The doctor?" dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. disappearance of the bride.'" Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each "By all means." Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "And how?" of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do just ask you whether you had heard it.' yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" breakfast and whispered something to her husband. "Entirely." sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." persecution?" "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "What do you make of that, Watson?" Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "'What, the red-headed man?' "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. see a sister of mine apply for." that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of never came back." "That is also quite modern," said the lady. some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of take the flies, but not before." was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. experiences." other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's your bag." carried out of court." had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went made his money." petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the come either from the window or the door. My attention was photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "'No, I know no one in these parts.' myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that of this gang." life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "Not in a good cause." as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have voice. wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "And Miss Sutherland?" great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, the Assizes." but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "Certainly." civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, congratulate you again." one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each Pool. Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must emerged. room had already been engaged for us. came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been from you?" "I am in hopes that she does." 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth chill to my heart. other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her bears upon the case?" "Yes." ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." had this final quarrel? "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my "Do you know him?" a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if forecastle of an emigrant ship. feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads