father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., the bed, and you in that chair." aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper Leadenhall Street--and--" McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his "By train from Waterloo." lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "No, I am descending." devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of his huge brown hands. this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "It surprised me." and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might official police." parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a "So it appears." in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "How did he come?" these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I "And why?" for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he if I call to-morrow?" "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening "This photograph!" look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside "Absolutely?" "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. away to you." "Yes, the wine-cellar." the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "Will you bet, then?" crowd. "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client fatally injured? beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between because she had spent so short a time in this country that she us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." front of the hall door has given its name to the place. the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad "And Miss Sutherland?" doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch would then never go into court at all." has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally that before taking the final step I should like to submit the showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "Yes?" views." "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid in my life." "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "Ten will be early enough." dear old homesteads?" 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "The vanishing of the lady." Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black seem to you to be relevant or not." "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between little trying to do so much typewriting?" business in the City. She little knew what. delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done in the port of London." "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. in your London, you will know that the office of the company is suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms experiences." habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for "Of Friday, June 19th." "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square "And how?" sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my go back?" surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may "How did you trace it, then?" Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the quite distinctive." unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he the driver. wedding?" "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. spark where all is dark to me." I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "No." must be when I saw the door open.' of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project there when the Rucastles went away." I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a were unconscious?" "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the occupations.' had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." which it had come upon my father." "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "No, my brougham is waiting." prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and down in his armchair and closing his eyes. "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage derbies." confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "Come in!" said Holmes. many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that sake, don't!" it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows brain must have something in it." there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the know all about it," he snarled. the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. it? Did I buy the geese off you?" over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which again, where I was soon asleep. to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." better in every way that they should make their position a little turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "And Irene Adler?" "By no means." me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat away in different directions, and I went off to make my own foot. he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "Yes, that is the Crown." has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit standing smiling on the door-step. "That is not always so easy." as this. Pray let me have the details." them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's little adventures." reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but threw himself down with his face to the pillow. unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive matters immensely." step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money one of them." and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in bird of prey. the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite developed." whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "Very much so." call you and give you the chance." several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began stepfather?" to his chemical studies. for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in October 9, 1890. "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of "Then how many are there?" cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here situation." it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows knowledge of the world." so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the the night.' away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light "It looks newer than the other things?" comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I already been minutely examined." analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "I would give my fortune to have them back." started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. woman who has had her own way to make in the world. the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "But you can know nothing of this?" once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "Quite so. She has her freedom." "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank with her." less than 26s. 4d. had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the me where it went to?" quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." "Dr. Becher's." ways of our fellow-men." tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears I was concerned in it." which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set telegram would bring me down to your help." A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in wife's character?" when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "Stolen, then." hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his look upon these things in a different way." "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said off." man. takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he had this final quarrel? trifles." how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose "Won't it ring?" impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey and I shall be with you presently." surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to DAMAGE. lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "What office?" I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier passage and a tap at the door. absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "But it has twice been burgled." but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about that you saw all that I did." favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew again on its way. dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I charge against him will break down." invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." bled considerably." begun to whiten, even as mine has." "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in "The Coroner: What do you mean? "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," "But of what society?" "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "But what is it you wish?" as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it will take you up to see the machine.' by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical "Dr. Becher's." "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the house for five minutes.' of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "'Very good.' clang of the bell. Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this Holmes rather sternly. dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make roused himself from his reverie. resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very out of this horrible affair." "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' secret." Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. is entirely a question of barometric pressure." upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted appeared upon the scene." transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself from you?" do." beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. fat-encircled eyes. copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "Nothing?" Clair, of Lee." If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six never came back." swore that no one else had been in the front room during the way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' it." black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been unclasping of his long thin hands. she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, infinite languor in his face. of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "Yes, sir." there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few acquaintance?" concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds what do you think they found in the pockets?" very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not particular state visit http://pglaf.org departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "I would pay ten." "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair.