last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly speckled band?" inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "Yes, all." "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an "Certainly, madam." "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "And Miss Sutherland?" compunction about shooting them down." License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less the tragedy. of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "By all means." a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to "Nothing." handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my means taking possession of that which another person has a prior clanging. to miss it." son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters "At half-wages, in fact." sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five Stoke Moran." decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, get the tickets." he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I get her out of the way." which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" clang of the bell. "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. "What have you done?" asked Holmes. a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "The Coroner: What do you mean? "Did you become engaged then?" "What is it, then--a fire?" very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some the armchair which I pushed forward for him. knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me kind enough to tell me what I should do." "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The was used.' not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, formed some opinion?" When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case said I. before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was "Holmes, the busybody!" reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I such attractions and accomplishments?' country, and eventually married, without anyone having a I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." might help us?" direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on most important business. It is probable that he will be away all day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said "Oh, the cause is excellent!" cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which like gravel from a pit.' "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been affair. clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "Do you receive much company?" he asked. went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite lectures into a series of tales." Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, certainly do as you advise." "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me the south-west, I see." are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took "Yesterday." "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he I am not easy in my mind about them." "You horrify me!" from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "To ruin me." "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "Why, it's a dummy," said he. sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, outside." and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, present." called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "'Never.' family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." the very morning of the wedding." "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" retorted upon me, and I on you." "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "'I am sure if I had known--' "I cannot say that I have." encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to to a light-house. say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day asked. despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project lumber-room." about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be suspect him." depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided "Yes, at the mines." expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to indiscretion." once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of are windows in it, of course?" man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his character. the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." I shall continue with my miserable story. "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting indeed happy." He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at away into the river." after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten You want to know what became of those geese?" "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. my secret was safe in his possession. "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and observed. discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, than to us. events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram "Absolutely?" which should have the effect of calling the attention of the disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was hurried by. description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same certainly do as you advise." have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. friends, not even his own brother. "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and upon the white wrist. glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" round and wave him away like that.' Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. on in his house." "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. my friend's incisive reasoning. and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the "They are typewritten," I remarked. about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant voice. Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, begun to whiten, even as mine has." the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the bore every mark of being an average commonplace British have an American origin." guilty one." together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the door?" post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor desk. when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "The knees of his trousers." outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see fasten all the windows?" horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I such person." home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "Certainly, madam." means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure "And why in hopes?" present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William strength in the others." frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in tell him that I know him to be innocent." well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a "No sign of it?" marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "Stolen, then." thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "By all means." other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We bore every mark of being an average commonplace British far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a what is your own theory as to what took place?" strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded there." lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, it were putty." Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "I will get her to show me." Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. good for you to do.' "What shall I do?" settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, man. "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a her also." them, and came down just as you departed. Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, "What, then?" delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations "I am in hopes that she does." "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. there!' society." "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "On the contrary, this is the right side." "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from criminal. We have already had experience of such." warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." allusion to a rat. slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming bonnet, and went out." yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and crackling voice. grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. really the only notable feature about the thing." dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up the bed, and you in that chair." test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the know what is wrong with it.' sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could it? Did I buy the geese off you?" paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, strode off upon his way. address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "Did you observe the colour?" all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both article?" I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out over here." "You horrify me!" detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, "ARAT," I read. "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end the address that was given us in the advertisement. nothing of it?" anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, opened the door, and slipped through. "No bad?" "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. on re-entering her father's house?" shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, absorbing." the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in remarked. "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "And is that all?" would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "Here?" hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain again, where I was soon asleep. It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "A thing like a cleaver," said he. his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day have one." possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an think, you have already met." us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an