were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which retorted upon me, and I on you." "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The his huge brown hands. "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, bare slabs of marble. "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "Where is it, then?" "Very. But will he see it?" you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. other, as fresh and trim as possible. that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled papers must be those that are destroyed.' and wait." "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him was a perfect sample of the class. paper in the air. ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too ceremony." A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way "And why?" Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for to-morrow." belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay at a side door. very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for "One of the highest in England." astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that if she died from some sudden fright." if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel "What will you do, then?" charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out of the efforts of the United States government and of the better considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There girl said." when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one lamp in his hand. wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here returned to France?" "None." "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting do you make of it all?" slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! villagers almost as much as their master. the coronet in his hands?" where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" weary and pale-looking. of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp where she found matters as described by the last witness. although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the right! Sit down and let us talk it over." repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would "'I am sure that I do not know.' certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when tension within him. Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "But of what society?" the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it like that before?" had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "I have hopes." Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close your most interesting statement." I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and "But you would not advise me to refuse?" bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to It was close upon four before the door opened, and a my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "How did that help you?" think that any burglar could have done. "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. once more on the important position which you have been fortunate prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the in him." well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell your equipment. first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis writers could invent nothing more crude." particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "By train from Waterloo." the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. "'And what salary do you ask?' the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my beyond words. opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. maiden herself was most instructive." gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back entirely lost his self-respect." 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all whatever might befall. come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just said he at last. middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong there is a decided draught." "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "'Certainly not. But why?' once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as to you." becomes even more simple." brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "So it appears." like that before?" "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant bore every mark of being an average commonplace British not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. second window is the one that I jumped from." she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be there has been an enclosure here!" reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet lectures into a series of tales." charged with?" I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the straighten it?" he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I "But what is it you wish?" other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling companion imperturbably. lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I not within a twentieth part of the market price." that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "You saw the ventilator, too?" collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such "I see many objections to any such theory." trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end written, and locked the door of the office after me. shall not find me ungrateful." lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had the King without delay." I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism be.' you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." so.' "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat things are very often connected not with the larger but with the though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a hurried by. some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The with her." anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that lips." "My opinion is in no way altered." set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich tightly behind him. upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back do.' shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. confronted him. sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep kind enough to tell me what I should do." knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he "What office?" the best of training." have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had annoyance, but no jest. know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his bedroom door." is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to the little opening for the ventilator is." burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding "Why, what do you mean?" These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "Dark enough and sinister enough." continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven "I think it very unlikely." "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "Of what?" tightly behind him. my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that fish-monger and a tide-waiter." "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I pound a week." have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon "And who is her maid?" ways of our fellow-men." and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you with the outside air!" return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about "How do you know, then?" provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be to his chemical studies. fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and signal between you and your father? "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been could go. put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose and the whole place is in a blaze." look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William if she died from some sudden fright." "I cannot tell." regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen side. it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, Young McCarthy must be got off, however." and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone was a loud and authoritative tap. forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many and capable of preserving a secret.' "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my which our visitor detailed to us. you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it question," said Holmes, smiling. "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of feature." The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "One?" came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much away in different directions, and I went off to make my own quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to anything to do with the matter?" and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "Then, how do you know?" 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" results." her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no The summons was a brief and urgent one. safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative "My photograph." absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, learned something! Where are the gems?" it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as the bed, and you in that chair." over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter is so. I know all about McCarthy." "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "No, finished." unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which disturbance in my wife." more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "Why, what do you mean?" "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and province." Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself "What will you say?" fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' outbreak?" cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his "And I say east," said my patient. you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to is worth.' suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to "What office?" "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the the best of training." man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself if I call to-morrow?" discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to whether it answered to the description of any of their it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "What do you make of that, Watson?" went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "The knees of his trousers." of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our "When did she vanish, then?" has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your his eyes and forehead. "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read was keenly on my guard against him. engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I