managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend business in the City. She little knew what. did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all "You think that he is dead?" even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced "Certainly." concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the to that open window." which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know head. So long, then!" matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. place no limit on the sum I may draw." wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is brain must have something in it." unprecedented a position." answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and character. returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." there." which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the been with you?" our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I and laid it on the table. "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" approach us with offers to donate. to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your "'Yes, it was gone.' framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, approach us with offers to donate. probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the open." already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The highroad, where all traces were lost. his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and upon a handsome competence. "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated conversation I have gathered that they have been married about down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an "No, I had a dozen." forebodings. where we are going." completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her "By train from Waterloo." been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "My stepfather's business papers." but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless fashion which was peculiar to him. all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both all-comprehensive glances. "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we once more. interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly was a loud and authoritative tap. preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I "Witness: Nothing definite. it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." Surrey." "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one "And what did you learn from him?" into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but young Openshaw's." "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "How are you getting on?" that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to congratulate you again." "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "'You doubt its value?' he asked. or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and "No." cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "And what did you see?" she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "And how in the world did you find them?" little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' indeed which he could not unravel. across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would them, and came down just as you departed. it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency to surprise her." therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One little adventures." hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, Holmes." conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab clanging. burst out into a roar of laughter. "Quite so. She has her freedom." "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from case before our client came into the room." well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it deduce something from that?" said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like "'Most admirably.' "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at Foundation "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a "'Quite sure, dad.' between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "Very murderous indeed." that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been bonnet, and went out." drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when friend's singular character. "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in keep the flames under. husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "Always." "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small said Mr. Holder. look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. enter Dr. Roylott's room." of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of his knees, staring into the fire. that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to particular state visit http://pglaf.org concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "You horrify me." is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his know that the truth is known." had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The in his hands." this unhappy family?" "A confidential servant?" ill-usage at the hands of fortune. "The murder was done with it." absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was train.' must be when I saw the door open.' until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be seem to you to be relevant or not." The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as wife's character?" house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed business?" all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done it." "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so "Nothing." hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "'Is 4 pounds a week.' were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment all that?" What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "'As governess?' glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and putting in the horse. room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "Breckinridge is his name." nonsense.' enter Dr. Roylott's room." photograph a cabinet?" disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction trifles." "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some present strange and interesting features that it is no easy life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "So I have heard." "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to a room. "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we Holmes rather sternly. should be so warm over such a trifle." the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "What is it?" lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "Here?" may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in you in your example." "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you me, and I could not think that his explanation of the "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew business came to an end." the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I "Very. But will he see it?" and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! "9th. McCauley cleared. distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. newspaper selections." lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little chance at all." to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right foot. as noiselessly as she had come. strength." upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the recover the gem." nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have words came to my lips. "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "What can it mean?" I gasped. "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would man. "No." Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "Then, how do you know?" as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he is four-and-twenty." "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted before, for it was considerably after midnight. Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin these bleak autumnal evenings." there." "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "Look there!" said he. lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of "She walked into the breakfast-room." electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination What do you deduce from it?" which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the way in everything. the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is "That is unusual in a young girl." to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons did not hear it also.' "Pray let us have it, for all that." "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "I answered that I had not. "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and exactly what you advise." a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "I say it is." never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send ran thus: flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great in my life." hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it one which it was hard to resist. bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" will not take me long to tell. "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? Miss Holder?" and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when quickly through a disagreeable task. staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had sound at heart." 1.F. "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "He might." corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to at my own good fortune. depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A appeal." drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "What then?" Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and "No sign of it?" roused himself from his reverie. to some other building. Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a the coronet in his hand?" "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction so.' machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his test if we have an answer to our advertisement." been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up your co-operation." "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and opportunities to fix the problem. wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "It is solved." the morning and make my own way in the world.' and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could to a light-house. there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and it." "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to "What have you to say now?" Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you respectable self." That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant was used.' "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. "I cannot say that I have." to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' knowledge of the world."