clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to "I cannot tell." "But not more so than I to find you." withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in shoulder. residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is jewels which you have stolen?' matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left all that?" the Friday. Was it to be in church?" dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and never came back." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an your Highness to the police-station?" "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not served to weaken the effect. "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. main points of my analysis." step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little "It must be recovered." was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the is," said he presently: All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and him, that man would not have given me such complete information "It missed him, then?" the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, bonnet, and went out." simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very to Leatherhead. were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "Did you observe the colour?" "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "If so, much may have happened between." is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the "Breckinridge is his name." consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said "On the contrary, this is the right side." indeed happy." both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "Oh, fresh and glossy." I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "Thank you. And your address?" the Friday. Was it to be in church?" "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "Precisely so. But how--" here and I will read it to you: at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "Then you may entirely rely on me." with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you so.' contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his late." "I say that I have solved it." was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "No?" go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, Arthur Conan Doyle however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "What is it?" 'please.'" End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. there." appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "But you would not advise me to refuse?" in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all the best of training." "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a most interesting one." go--none." is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should wife's character?" Chief Executive and Director have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "You think that he is dead?" this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" Holmes." light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she matter over." conversation I have gathered that they have been married about week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "Why serious?" and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had "Why, what do you mean?" pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do outside. "Absolutely none." finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "Thank you. Pray proceed." In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, 1.E.9. "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "How did that help you?" had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "The best possible." He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "But he might be a bachelor." dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that any." "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. vanished into the darkness. one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit indeed happy." coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it desk. and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, meant." your room." them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, to change my dress. "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "We have tried and failed." name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were nothing of it?" stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "Stoke Moran?" said he. he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "And Miss Sutherland?" troubles have been weighing upon his mind. affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been case before our client came into the room." may have an influence upon European history." perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon hour?' your troubles." some terrible trap for her." Doctor, of the paper and the date." natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "I cannot tell." all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not death." Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have rose-bushes. At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself there when the Rucastles went away." "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under least a fellow-countryman. "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "Yes, certainly." to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is "Then what has happened to him?" recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. "He said that you could solve anything." "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left power." followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the shall use the carriage to-night." At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on him, that man would not have given me such complete information discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution friend's singular character. "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "Nothing?" danger is over." "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he had died away into the silence from which it rose. contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do come either from the window or the door. My attention was landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "And for present expenses?" sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us strong reason behind." How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for "Yes." as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the if she died from some sudden fright." attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, know what is wrong with it.' it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." ran thus: chair. warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three direction." papers." "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, the ceiling. belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "You know me, then?" About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, "My photograph." to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you but preventing her from injuring another. "You forget that I know nothing about it." "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. "How long did she speak to this Alice?" chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "Of what?" little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "It missed him, then?" in the port of London." Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." unclasping of his long thin hands. leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now it were putty." instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the to a more successful conclusion." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy "'It is locked up,' I answered. stammered. wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads of fine shops and stately business premises that they really contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow "Why, what do you mean?" this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of "What do you mean?" nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, you came in." as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "What are they?" o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside "At the wedding breakfast." THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on but preventing her from injuring another. confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who will take you up to see the machine.' Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his prisoner's face. was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in my friend's incisive reasoning. is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." highly," said Holmes. "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, Eyford at 11:15.' grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a own family. look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. perplexity from it to my illustrious client. have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend up this clue while it is still hot." your sleep?' which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "To ruin me." to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "Not in a good cause." "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was said he. insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has I think that I could be of assistance to you." no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had hands. this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "You forget that I know nothing about it." "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "Precisely." "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded putting in the horse. dead, shall be safe with us." For additional contact information: my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could your equipment. his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the