and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan a monotonous occupation." he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were wedding?" "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of memory. his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely now. It seems that there had been some informality about their in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little him." it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my "Not social, then?" my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the and a shock of very red hair. photograph?" be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took Foundation one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another character. window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was friends, not even his own brother. terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of bore every mark of being an average commonplace British from the brougham. slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great "Yes, at the mines." have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "'What, the red-headed man?' guilty parties." hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she enough to aid us in our search." present." Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive once more on the important position which you have been fortunate forbidden door. sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "How are you getting on?" returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to night.' said he. his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his me where it went to?" a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and outsides of the windows. been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some wedding?" my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But "I have hopes." "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would the nursery. back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative "She told me to ask you." of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I tassel actually lying upon the pillow. word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door opened the door, and slipped through. "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. house for five minutes.' "The murder was done with it." "What have you to say now?" we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "I fear not." and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of His smile broadened. "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "No more words. Get out!" "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "But you would not advise me to refuse?" itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut had picked up in the wood. "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the should be taken.' possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. hardly wander." takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained prison!" more terrible than the truth. "Pray do so." "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "May I see it?" "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a that you saw all that I did." which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, business." "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "'What are you doing there?' he asked. the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom invisible to me," I remarked. Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "Was your sister dressed?" "'And what salary do you ask?' Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very away into the river." red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his be.' Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to giving me time to thank him. "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a in one or two places in England?' "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out forecastle of an emigrant ship. shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "It goes to the housekeeper's room." to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His key turn in the lock." "We have tried and failed." wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was even so self-evident a thing as that." thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "No. His orders were to stay in the house." jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for photograph a cabinet?" "BALLARAT." and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a new acquaintance to Baker Street. "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary chemical work which was so dear to him. "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I once more. heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "Nothing." Farm upon the left." faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" "And how did he make his money?" strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There habit of advancing money.' Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that him, that man would not have given me such complete information "Where, then?" Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that in him." "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved "What can you not understand?" and that he would see to anything that turned up. "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the would apply.' pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "10th. John Swain cleared. was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." village inn over there?" "And your father? Did you tell him?" wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for call it cruel." corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I fishes. pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and The summons was a brief and urgent one. you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking fashion which was peculiar to him. "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; neither fascinating nor artistic." golden eyeglasses. "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his to arrive at through this?" liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your desk. and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot writers could invent nothing more crude." and your relations to her." "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the your sleep?' forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from Street. at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell through." scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate "I warn you that they are very incomplete." certainly not very gracious." The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the which should have the effect of calling the attention of the of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or questionable one." my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San "You are all wrong." your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. highly," said Holmes. "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "You did not overhear what they said?" "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There "Will you bet, then?" Pope's Court, Fleet Street." "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" closing the door. it with his own hands." "But to whom?" in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly answered with a sidelong glance. "It missed him, then?" respectable self." "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but once more to my work. "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the in this way: this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's compunction about shooting them down." "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "Of Friday, June 19th." my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "What are they?" "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport Pope's Court. "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "It is very kind of you." up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door looking up at the numbers of the houses." predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from "No, my brougham is waiting." one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "My dear Holmes!" the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a points to suicide?" complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is important." to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she the devil!" roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for perplexity from it to my illustrious client. Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some keep the flames under. I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! "I am all attention, madam." The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not hurried by. twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that down from London to inquire more deeply into it." Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the Street. stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have "No good news?" finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have at my own good fortune. "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his upon the white wrist. Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "But she will refuse." after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "A client, then?" took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they "And I." fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a charge against him will break down." "Game for a morning drive?" "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there in your London, you will know that the office of the company is I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "My Mary? Impossible!" "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had It may be so in this case, also."