not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first already been minutely examined." Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "Well?" father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "You are all wrong." "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "Certainly." "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "Then I shall certainly come." "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "Only as much as we can deduce." "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag that I may have something better before very many minutes are forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. see me here to avoid scandal." "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the pound a week." that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk hereditary King of Bohemia." imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "In which, sir?" "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very locked. was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, from the brougham. rose-bushes. presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the test if we have an answer to our advertisement." solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of closing the door. Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this pierced for earrings?" dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there "Stoke Moran?" said he. and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in key turn in the lock." "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I "Do you know him?" the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what during which he might have communicated with his friend the "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was subject to the trademark license, especially commercial moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That forehead. first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the cigars in their mouths. perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they intrusion of other matters." showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the have accepted such a situation. "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was with you?" friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass photograph?" anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, Holmes." telegram would bring me down to your help." incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" "Yes." cause to be." abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his and glanced through. "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which "Then the page we have seen--" hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "'I have heard so.' Countess of Morcar's?" passage and a tap at the door. me. "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached foot. and your relations to her." suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the chambers. have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present be there in time for your coming." that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And "Precisely so. But how--" black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you call for protection in the marriage market, for the present the Red-headed League." It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "Then, how do you know?" object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought Sutherland. armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a points to suicide?" "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice voice, changing her seat as requested. did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith Holmes' room. Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by Foundation "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really "And leave your case unfinished?" "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be Miss Holder?" dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that British peeress.'" There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "'Where to?' shaken than I had ever seen him. Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four carriage. It was a chestnut." "I will try. What is it?" does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "She will not sell." "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put "And I." have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, with the outside air!" town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a "One of his hands." "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets ways of our fellow-men." to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "And sit in the dark?" over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "'Yes.' vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by and it need not interfere very much with one's other considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "What is it?" your bag." to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon the south-west, I see." as he folded up the epistle. "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her that I can to serve you." through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. at home. high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a since then to throw any light upon what became of him." "The Cedars?" nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." might help us?" which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "I don't believe it." "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you woman who has had her own way to make in the world. end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips grasp, he hurried from the room. weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly morning." all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and read it out to me." Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and "You have compromised yourself seriously." unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a of Mr. Rucastle's." me what he had done with the three missing stones. her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the out." his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: garden below. crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked "It looks newer than the other things?" recall any case within my experience which looked at the first Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to Street. "So I heard. You have him here?" thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that the room while you explain this matter?" or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless could gather together that I was able to avert another public threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will some water from a caraffe. the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated a room. you found me to-night--and running through the front room she together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "But you can know nothing of this?" little adventures." next day. beg that you will break it off." America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture "Pray do so." "My own seal." was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. geese which you supplied to the Alpha." remarked. the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "I will get her to show me." "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. use an arc-and-compass breastpin." neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I golden eyeglasses. a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "Never to return." wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should door?" upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague take the flies, but not before." "So I am. Very much so." is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his works. "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their will he say when he returns?" that before taking the final step I should like to submit the of the vacancies.' "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "Deserted you?" could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand until night should bring an explanation. "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in the window, rose as we entered. whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my Holmes. handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and take the flies, but not before." it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case Arthur Conan Doyle to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with locked. "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "And how did he make his money?" "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves singular points about the case. What did the police think of the child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up to tackle the facts." "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become reach." "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "You have it, sir, just as it happened." I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was your most interesting statement." said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by "None." delighted to hear it," he said. helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone asked with his eyes open. He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I what do you think they found in the pockets?" Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of with the outside air!" have established a very serious case against the son of the voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he have established a very serious case against the son of the lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a one of them." his grey eyes. who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as writers could invent nothing more crude." your billet.' in this way: is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man,