"It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no back alive. her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "Pray do so." round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of yet." threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will train.' "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience one else, I think." "An enemy?" rose-bushes. doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying flock.' Eyford." from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "But she could not love him." "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "In what way?" asked Holmes. "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "I should like to see him very much." Sholtos." severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in quite distinctive." at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall suspect him." We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "'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 upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I confronted him. might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight there in twenty minutes." round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' It was close upon four before the door opened, and a was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so fattened it expressly for you.' you give your casting vote to?" fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine asked. Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when "Have you it here?" "Upon what point?" snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To hair?' "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was respectable self." she might be summoned. job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside "It was." because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had I shall communicate with you." "Not him." "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "It may not come to that," said Holmes. very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took "Never to return." presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the which are rolled in Rotterdam." This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "She walked into the breakfast-room." predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your leaning back in his chair. "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." populous neighbourhood." to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. seem to you to be relevant or not." "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any were wasted." to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I would then never go into court at all." "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long highroad, where all traces were lost. remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew "Oh, fresh and glossy." said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where you?' "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to character. only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made "On your arm?" garden below. "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would than was visible to me." "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, less than 26s. 4d. were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of writer." case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "You don't mind breaking the law?" friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of "It is very kind of you." threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am I approached. conclusions. you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the colonel looking down at me. shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to mysterious end." and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. You can understand that this register and diary may implicate shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of lost his Christmas dinner." fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had persecution?" his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have drove away. affection." "Yes, from Horsham." am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to business came to an end." society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a Leadenhall Street--and--" defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." always that they were such commands as a lady might with back into the street. expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, said he. explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast on re-entering her father's house?" "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their father's place of business?" being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that your Highness to the police-station?" transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a before, for it was considerably after midnight. leaning back in his chair. "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you up this clue while it is still hot." time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The "ARAT," I read. "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the society." "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I Pool. aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he such attractions and accomplishments?' anything to do with the matter?" whole matter to your consideration." to-night." to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were that It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive points in connection with it which never have been, and probably would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a Project Gutenberg-tm works. me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian down. for the market.' instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, "I am armed." "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "'I have already given you my word.' age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have towards the blaze. came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that "He slept on the premises." "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "Upon what point?" "And I." misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, this Miss Turner." little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. only touch the interest." "She told me to ask you." expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "Seven!" I answered. impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. "I have come for advice." of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "And your father? Did you tell him?" moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "Why serious?" paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I "You horrify me." "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you other lovers by making love himself." treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, too. air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "Which are?" "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the room. "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "Were they all fastened this morning?" Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "Perfectly so." "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how he died? this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to morning." other means.' to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "I warn you that they are very incomplete." cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" fait accompli?" "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside to-night?' was already answered. Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "At half-wages, in fact." product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not learned something! Where are the gems?" when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and "You forget that I know nothing about it." His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as humiliation." the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all unprecedented a position." "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "It may not come to that," said Holmes. charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." information in his hands the value of which he did not himself focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we derbies." "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "Of Friday, June 19th." right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your suspect him." the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "I fear not." again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally "'Most admirably.' not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "Yes." through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right "And help." national property. I was determined that the law should have its Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country chamber." "And did you observe any change in her then?" "And sit in the dark?" handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. woven round him. "The Coroner: What do you mean? prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes thin legs towards the fire. but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had The summons was a brief and urgent one. been with you?" lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of to tell." toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the considering the formidable letters which were received by himself shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a "In heaven's name, what for?" perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your it with his own hands." Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle the coronet in his hand?" Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. allusion to a rat. "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in the night.' during which he might have communicated with his friend the his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, written. fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" kindly on the shoulder. Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "But to whom?" He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice pressing in one house as in another. point our research must commence, and we will begin it by "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white lumber-room." "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two whole matter to your consideration." Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?'