yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "Who was the criminal, then?" Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and vault. that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek their singular warning or token before them when starting upon was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution instituted." felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being tail." "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table some mystery and the punishment of some crime." case-book, which he consulted. resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "Then, as to money?" "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else questionable one." "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so hair?' "Then what has happened to him?" we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your and that he would see to anything that turned up. flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of next day. building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches it were putty." thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' answered with a sidelong glance. "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and chance." not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I which we had just quitted. I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, we went to search for him, face downward in a little business matters.' and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "Ample." fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no been." isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a very old mansion. keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "His face fell immediately. window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing rooms." Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "What office?" perplexity from it to my illustrious client. companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. matter." such person." head. So long, then!" with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her cigars in their mouths. They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." will not take me long to tell. o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive indiscretion." copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to any more." "I am to be neutral?" XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 "'Never.' rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, "'Certainly,' I answered. there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the "I have come for advice." twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper Where does the thing come from?' of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "No more words. Get out!" "9th. McCauley cleared. down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. particular state visit http://pglaf.org cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which overpowering excitement and concern. "What do you make of that, Watson?" be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared where Mr. Fordham shows you.' Sutherland. "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "Do you receive much company?" he asked. "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. works. at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "'I have heard so.' bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the "'Certainly not. But why?' fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then was lame." waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been three fields round his house, and there he would take his "I am in hopes that she does." our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "Well?" Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my deduce something from that?" questioning and rather startled gaze. "Here?" interests were the same as his." "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man name is different." Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are fishes. Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door comes from the middle window." "Yes, there are nearly always some there." "Well, some hundreds of times." Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now prepare for the new role I have to play." has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "And what did you learn from him?" not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler Countess of Morcar's?" rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way "How did that help you?" to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes this Miss Turner." of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was from you?" "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "Well, but China?" jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. me." "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "Indeed! Whose, then?" I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an carpenter." "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, Sutherland?" "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case me. more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to she has been waylaid. There has been no result." God! What an exposure! What can I do?" but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear into her hand at the door and which lured her within their then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about seven miles from Eyford Station.' over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help and the whole place is in a blaze." compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon papers diligently of late, have you not?" without a word or a look. through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in crowd. that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. points in connection with it which never have been, and probably sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business "He is dead," cried several voices. Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent "It is no ordinary one." opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the row." begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to dramatic, in fact." "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing "Yes, he did." conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "Really! You surprise me." of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "We were both in the photograph." guilty parties." and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to The summons was a brief and urgent one. "What can you not understand?" acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than writers could invent nothing more crude." all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and was shining brightly. "I am about to be married." basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, fatally injured? The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "What do you mean?" The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. said he. our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the McCarthy." labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, "Always." these bleak autumnal evenings." "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "Yes, it was twisted." "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the on re-entering her father's house?" "Then, as to money?" our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four me where it went to?" Doctor, of the paper and the date." some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying relief. off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This there is a decided draught." leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself just called myself is not exactly my own." last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "None." pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." go--none." "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where habit of advancing money.' own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure "Of Friday, June 19th." thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "Precisely." certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you writer." "Where did he live, then?" right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in that there was nothing in it, after all." "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted may never be exposed to such a temptation." (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "Never." already referred to. was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack must be when I saw the door open.' Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both sit on the left-hand side of the driver." o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." standing smiling on the door-step. the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the "I have hopes." younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia "On Monday." "I was mad--insane." companion. have I gained?" coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips observed. cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again and effective." pressing in one house as in another. second." was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the joking. children over to America with him, so that I found myself without passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with nonsense.' examination of the premises, but without finding anything which a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "So it appears." Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "Awake, Watson?" he asked. which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended have not had my rubber." Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I The summons was a brief and urgent one. And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, pressing in one house as in another. "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an their singular warning or token before them when starting upon said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it DAMAGE. by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this "'Is purely nominal.' his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see heavy and sharp instrument." once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." who was a member of your goose club." directors have had misgivings upon the subject." where Mr. Fordham shows you.' jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be wife's character?" photograph?" visitors." present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester