certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a residence of the great financier. lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I "Her father is very rich?" satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore country, and eventually married, without anyone having a need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his me what he had done with the three missing stones. closing the door. distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner stalked out of the room. you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "Is he quiet?" "Yes, I have one waiting." glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the yourselves in at night?" "You are certainly joking, Holmes." and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely tell him that I know him to be innocent." during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that observed. away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "'Certainly not. But why?' to his chemical studies. for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little voice. bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They least a most suspicious remark." a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it the very morning of the wedding." Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "I cannot as yet see any connection." caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." closely." "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl "A confidential servant?" "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you vanished into the darkness. and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he how narrow had been my escape. hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "But we can't all be." phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with future lives." "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" three of the beryls in it, was missing. possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor absorbing." strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since desk. The telegram which we eventually received came late one night wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the has little to do with my story." the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative one of them." "'Is purely nominal.' I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some "'Yes, it was gone.' me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor said Mr. Holder. yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose train from Paddington which would bring you there at about bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." you." begun to whiten, even as mine has." said he. in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her attention." ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" "Yes?" her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. I. "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, "He might." applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "Stoke Moran?" said he. Leadenhall Street--and--" "Was your sister dressed?" protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the works. tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, remarked. as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and unkempt, staring out at me. so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is desk. "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of what do you think they found in the pockets?" "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass "What?" "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most "Where, indeed?" desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless "'Then let me do so?' course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the only touch the interest." found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "It is true that I have been generally successful." stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it thirty. enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, of Fenchurch Street." number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate business matters.' company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my about here speaks of his kindness to him." about. Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well hereditary King of Bohemia." confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." the running down." "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most page at http://pglaf.org usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "Yes, only one." Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as official police." always that they were such commands as a lady might with good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, business came to an end." prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes little adventures." harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "An accident, I presume?" "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds "Yes." hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. "A client, then?" "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to lamp. "Yes." with the outside air!" say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my trifles." the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during danger is over." "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's "Yes, there are nearly always some there." six. Come in!" prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your "But it has twice been burgled." dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, "Have you her photograph?" when you have done it." without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "Not social, then?" "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor them present such singular features as the strange train of indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. "Then the page we have seen--" This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "What is it, then--a fire?" "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid sentimental considerations in the background which would induce I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she the ceiling. Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of foresight and the moral retrogression?" "Awake, Watson?" he asked. or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "Quite so." "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. "Yes, certainly." more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To never came back." swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "'Stolen!' he cried. first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature look upon these things in a different way." and files of the old papers, following the future career of every was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be generous with you in money matters.' hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of them, and came down just as you departed. London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, absolutely follow my advice in every respect." pressing in one house as in another. his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon Young McCarthy must be got off, however." the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a my secret was safe in his possession. "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has that there was nothing in it, after all." have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to hand, madam?" "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "I shall be delighted." know that the truth is known." "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business to-morrow." "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade The telegram which we eventually received came late one night over with notes and figures. that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be Heh?' to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" is acting for the best. "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective off." The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But furiously. memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of business at Coburg Square is serious." "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. bird of prey. the child." Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you derbies." hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the "That was it, sir." key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 instituted." events, Mr. Windibank!" cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I Young McCarthy must be got off, however." Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "Yes." rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. be best to do. his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch knowledge of the world." and laid it on the table. away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and my secret was safe in his possession. before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from hair?' into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. "What! You do not mean bodies?" lumber-room." table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up about here speaks of his kindness to him." o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle The summons was a brief and urgent one. however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "And Irene Adler?" Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. outsides of the windows. the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut a monotonous occupation." anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like which our visitor detailed to us. the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done Heh?' And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the wife's character?" "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to she has been waylaid. There has been no result." computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite "Never." your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would "Very much so." would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, amused." professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood suspect him." "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness your only hope of safety." "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then