without a word or a look. "It is half-past ten now." following enigmatical notices: speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. the house with me." London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a shall use the carriage to-night." "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what Chief Executive and Director laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley III. Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the "Why? What do you mean?" plantation.' which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had "'Certainly not. But why?' "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a Pope's Court. apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, it were putty." marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "Here?" "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes hereditary King of Bohemia." pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss the station." If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project wedding?" "About a month then." job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought your room." He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even did not hear it also.' sooner or later she must fall a victim. of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a some water from a caraffe. him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the that I can to serve you." also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "It is a murder, then?" search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause problems help me to do so." before the coroner and the police-court." conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly things are very often connected not with the larger but with the down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. "But what is it you wish?" all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted soul! here is her carriage at the door." "'As governess?' which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress But Holmes shook his head gravely. drove away. third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no of campaign. London for the present?" delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House "Have you it here?" "It looks newer than the other things?" with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" to a light-house. my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "I say it is." grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "No legal papers or certificates?" and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late "'Yes, sir.' the King without delay." "Ah!" Arthur Conan Doyle of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "Nothing." "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely foresight and the moral retrogression?" the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of about here speaks of his kindness to him." furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial business in the City. She little knew what. "But not more so than I to find you." "But she will refuse." "And your mother is alive?" When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, "But we can't all be." Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "Precisely so. But how--" mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that "Yes, from Horsham." Leadenhall Street--and--" Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided "What then?" but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the companion. simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are not, dad?" she asked. "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "How are you getting on?" "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's sneer upon his pale face. half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the "I think that it is very probable." abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the what do you think they found in the pockets?" American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold of receipt of the work. "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as Does that suggest anything?" cigars in their mouths. Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just note?" dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel words came to my lips. so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his passage and a tap at the door. what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, "I cannot think." her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way "And sit in the dark?" me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little then?" is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching "Get out!" said he. "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you "My photograph." at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "No. What a strange idea!" homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the fear." he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done that you can jump it.' leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went here." "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me disappearance of these gems?" that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his through." fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "'Where could I find him?' the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to "And leave your case unfinished?" to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." http://gutenberg.net/license). Pope's Court. "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, your billet.' it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its that threaten you." not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. "I was certainly surprised to find you there." were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "And you can do nothing until then?" asked. beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been lectures into a series of tales." his cane at the bell-pull. his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. maiden herself was most instructive." see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much behind me. this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst hour." out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "'Entirely.' smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and "Yes, they were peculiar boots." This is what he says: present." miles off. theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate voice, changing her seat as requested. "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' frequently gained my first real insight into the character of charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a tightly behind him. effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the to tell." horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa eat it." abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. McCarthy's innocence. morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, suggested at once that there must be a communication between the deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed for securing the situation." "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' my former friend and companion. "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and row." was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do had this final quarrel? "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" "And sit in the dark?" of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good in. mystery!" was the fact that his father should, according to his account, my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "And leave your case unfinished?" to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just disappearance of the bride.'" London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my business?" one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as to some other building. waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "Yes, sir." Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." direction." firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "I will not look." turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient Eyford." "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. him and tried to hold him back. a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of seven miles from Eyford Station.' him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many country, and eventually married, without anyone having a would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, "Yes." wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "What do you mean?" "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" must compliment you." "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "Yes." before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." everything which you would wish to know." appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of "It certainly sounds feasible." One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and and the church but not where the lady lived." There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that suddenly upon us." the station." Dr. Gregory B. Newby something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such not come at once?" "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it intimate personal affairs in this public manner." you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" your equipment. The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch the stable lane now." on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "Certainly." spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of This is what he says: Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but the bottom.' from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the once more. is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but directors, with the result that you have seen." "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I the night.' murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a nights." pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner "Not social, then?" years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming burst into a hearty fit of laughter. he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room a good hundred miles off by now." of them has the shutters up.' "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, I shall communicate with you." the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his one of the states of the Union." last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are served to weaken the effect. these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America helping a boy to put up the shutters. the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. begun to whiten, even as mine has." "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the James Windibank. Voilà tout!" don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so purpose of examination. "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your formed some opinion?" "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "Pray let us have it, for all that." meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is