request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then papers must be those that are destroyed.' "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "So I am. Very much so." strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper lost his Christmas dinner." future lives." to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no seven miles from Eyford Station.' "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at "Was the window open?" struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring His name is Francis Prosper." and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "It surprised me." "Always." "What then?" corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a just called myself is not exactly my own." now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then lost nothing by them." because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just "But you have hopes?" make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to have accepted such a situation. cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and me." "What do you make of that, Watson?" "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, followed. will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "We must have a cab." the bed, and you in that chair." arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from lamp in his hand. the address that was given us in the advertisement. of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy and shall probably return to London by the evening train." Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not woman who has had her own way to make in the world. The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk congenial hunt. one of the states of the Union." and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "Just look it up, then." the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official death." this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the to-night?" I asked. things are very often connected not with the larger but with the Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "'It is locked up,' I answered. value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I little trying to do so much typewriting?" the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "You have the photograph?" ceremony." Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, be. she might be summoned. nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that "He said that you could solve anything." Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you subject to the trademark license, especially commercial away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. of them has the shutters up.' "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day is so. I know all about McCarthy." fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "Was he the only applicant?" aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your advice." to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "'And the work?' 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call him." writers could invent nothing more crude." "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of weighed down with some great anxiety. to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, light and attacked it." electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See certainly not very gracious." "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I "Not particularly." "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in "My photograph." have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of in him." "Not social, then?" nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem recall any case within my experience which looked at the first Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his one's self under obligations.' "The gentleman I describe." until night should bring an explanation. "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion crime." bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off of receipt of the work. We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest His smile broadened. from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. is worth.' elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes is entirely a question of barometric pressure." However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and annoyance, but no jest. making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We "And I to find an enemy." Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which ready to-morrow?' difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "No." warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project his face. shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it see me here to avoid scandal." "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for individual and becomes the badge of a society." "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "And what then?" us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, business came to an end." "BALLARAT." forbidden door. the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in to arrive at through this?" the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not mysterious end." sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled upon the white wrist. "'Very good.' life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and know that the truth is known." his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "How can you tell that?" into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in shadow pass over his face as I spoke. every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "'I have heard so.' in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it "We must sit without light. He would see it through the floor. breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, gbnewby@pglaf.org beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of some mystery and the punishment of some crime." very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in really the only notable feature about the thing." tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "Which surely he restored to their owner?" with her." "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most when your master had gone out." "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again "What steps will you take?" I asked. real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should and a shock of very red hair. "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" himself to tell his story. Street. slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair "An accident, I presume?" to tell." Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us again before evening." Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "Nor running a chance of arrest?" Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "I shall be delighted." the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little and I shall be with you presently." connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his advice." details should find their way into the papers. Inspector a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" the salesman. delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. "I have seen the police." ventilator." 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since But Holmes shook his head gravely. get the tickets." so far?" "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and "What then?" successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! DISSOLVED. "So I am. Very much so." nonsense.' often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "But it has twice been burgled." that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a believe that I should never have any practice at all. He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "And who is her maid?" method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that companion. is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to front of me. was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have the window, rose as we entered. "My Mary? Impossible!" himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new to you." one else, I think." boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "'Where to?' "Stoke Moran?" said he. advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very photograph?" "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. British peeress.'" Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "But how will you look?" that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, fait accompli?" "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a opened the door, and slipped through. I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "It is no ordinary one." hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that "I will, Miss Turner." hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis chance." As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done thirty. after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. be.' bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, might have a private word with us. public press." "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible cup of tea. I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional once more. Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous not come at once?" go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under where we are going." obstinate." The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, tail." dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "Yes?" planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. presume?" room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but "One horse?" interjected Holmes. good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." "He might." "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been