Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing dates and names. friends, not even his own brother. beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "I don't believe it." eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I than was visible to me." Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook my little problems." consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter questionable one." drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it existence." grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated during which he might have communicated with his friend the every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain existence." written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE laugh and put his lips to my ear. "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. train.' the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in digesting their breakfasts at home." step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you mystery may be cleared along those lines." after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. Lee, in the county of Kent." not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If awkward doing business with an alias." chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "About a month then." unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I before the coroner and the police-court." Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "But it has twice been burgled." deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys undoubtedly my uncle's." same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman was keenly on my guard against him. the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never "Was the window open?" side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its wanted for ourselves." Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." knowledge of the world." gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge "And why?" him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I I am not easy in my mind about them." been able to understand it, in a very few words. the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong could gather together that I was able to avert another public "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that house for five minutes.' defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of such attractions and accomplishments?' Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A to-night." "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to his huge brown hands. "One?" again on its way. "Upon what point?" off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw narrative." posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. criminal. We have already had experience of such." "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" been deceived." "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the "But I have heard all that you have heard." thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "ARAT," I read. a suggestive one." of the efforts of the United States government and of the better vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in bearing upon the case." this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring ourselves in the office." flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a wall." particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in "'A dozen yards or so.' "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that your Highness to the police-station?" Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I already referred to. round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "Nothing?" any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "It certainly sounds feasible." away to you." door?" Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "His face fell immediately. making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "What then?" to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the his knees, staring into the fire. a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been important." you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young me where it went to?" Cross for the Continent." you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "Very much so." "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to the Assizes." woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too to his chemical studies. soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper Watson," he said cordially. you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "An accident, I presume?" "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. wall." and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried might have a private word with us. "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me answer." My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out the house with me." Have you good authority for what you say?" snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you "Nothing?" conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary something of him before." to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their hands. face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "Perhaps we may make them less so." was lame." "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been dead, shall be safe with us." silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a shall not find me ungrateful." "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing "Certainly." music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the he bowed and left the room without another word. dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "Thank you. And your address?" a good hundred miles off by now." before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual my special province." in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "'What do you call purely nominal?' likely to be some crony of the landlady's." I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if "'What, the red-headed man?' before, for it was considerably after midnight. a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "It's nothing of the kind." you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to him to go away.' 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" of a light. invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was forehead. "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the I held the little printed slip to the light. so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies room had already been engaged for us. nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks details." "Where to?" "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. despaired of." by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he fatally injured? coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "Why? What do you mean?" gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "Why did you pick him?" held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring case before our client came into the room." been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not of campaign. the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his "Yes. He waved his hands." about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice "That is possible." and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his nothing with him." "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that neither fascinating nor artistic." the nursery. "But his left-handedness." "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps "I am in hopes that she does." the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, that he will be back before evening." out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was guilty parties." the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do "Upon what point?" "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the learned something! Where are the gems?" "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely "Ha! you find it so?" of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "Then, as to money?" envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close very old mansion. as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property cause to be." We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor heavy and sharp instrument." felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my It was close upon four before the door opened, and a your billet.' abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, What do you deduce from it?" me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, was keenly on my guard against him. from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps learned something! Where are the gems?" little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon Sutherland. array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations "I saw her in conversation with her maid." she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man lamp. information in his hands the value of which he did not himself it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "That is also quite modern," said the lady. erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an "My opinion is in no way altered." arrangements." I shall communicate with you." "Pray do so." pressing in one house as in another. "Yes, at the mines." Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I him, that man would not have given me such complete information "It is very kind of you." Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. chance at all." "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He "But he might be a bachelor." "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is presume?" scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "How are you getting on?" "I am still in the dark." little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, closing the door. would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "To ruin me." "I say it is." looking up at the numbers of the houses." son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man had no one to advise her at such a crisis." perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your fishes. opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from