keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this photograph?" "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. "Perhaps I have." blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the a very grave face. her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods "Texas, I think." "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" upon the shelf for the interim." "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her this Miss Turner." which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical or other trace. But how on earth--" death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to Eyford at 11:15.' you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we you?' at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the "Ten will be early enough." unkempt, staring out at me. in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and disappearance of these gems?" "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was me have 200 pounds?' enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the for the market.' Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm all that?" familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his "Yes, it would be as well." scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business that before taking the final step I should like to submit the open." "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." sneer upon his pale face. "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew appeal." again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of "Ten will be early enough." While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "The gentleman I describe." dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite clanging. table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and visitors." shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. strode off upon his way. "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him official police." "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That may never be exposed to such a temptation." ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "It is a murder, then?" only touch the interest." confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. with the outside air!" human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange "'And the work?' from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has problems help me to do so." "What I expected to see." Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number sneer upon his pale face. "The best possible." This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I indiscretion." nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "You are hungry," I remarked. "It's nothing of the kind." vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and "What is it?" "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden wife's character?" "Witness: Nothing definite. the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should people don't know." we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so there when the Rucastles went away." refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than lamp. envelope. dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the questionable one." down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off bed dies. Does not that strike you?" evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of article?" "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' friends, not even his own brother. separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, may never be exposed to such a temptation." should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the vanished into the darkness. a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his undoubtedly my uncle's." rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank and capable of preserving a secret.' 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached was lame." with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No since then to throw any light upon what became of him." has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to "And what then?" vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you directly by questioning you." saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the searched, without anything being found which could incriminate laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." of this gang." he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more "'About the same.' "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of presented more singular features than that which was associated "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying gone. could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "In what way?" asked Holmes. which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the "I cannot tell." fait accompli?" the so-precious time, but come!' American. Then who could this American be, and why should he giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that ago." him and tried to hold him back. ordinary clothes on?" nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any "In answer to an advertisement." this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, the stable lane now." lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum you want, then?' one which it was hard to resist. the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "I think that it is very probable." to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were Holmes' face clouded over. then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. investigation." "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was the date of his supposed suicide." But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "What then?" smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never persecution?" Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a "But she could not love him." with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody his grey eyes. don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, in darkness. "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back had picked up in the wood. lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I I am not easy in my mind about them." and glanced through. suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards "We must have a cab." villagers almost as much as their master. of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy hereditary King of Bohemia." not as remarkable as your advertisement." other lovers by making love himself." sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for works. "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in States. once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "Then, as to money?" "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "In San Francisco, a year ago." could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning "Yes?" chill to my heart. "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, just ask you whether you had heard it.' had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I arrested. You then--" Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid events than those which have happened in my own family." Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon himself to hunt down. from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "Entirely." to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." have not had my rubber." young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that been anything against him. He had for years been known as a you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, "Precisely so. But how--" "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and writers could invent nothing more crude." "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something in this way: there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still his wife has ceased to love him." "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not will not take me long to tell. "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and him and tried to hold him back. with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he appeal." Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "Was your sister dressed?" erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations bonnet, and went out." "Where did he live, then?" mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after room?" "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own children over to America with him, so that I found myself without secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the detained." intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old your billet.' endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper with some details as to your case." come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp nonsense.' sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin "Breckinridge is his name." never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll you." friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little most important business. It is probable that he will be away all prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your washing it down with a long draught of water. "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "Her father is very rich?" conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my Pool. help us in this matter." "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a "That is unusual in a young girl." Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for "This photograph!" form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one there when the Rucastles went away." wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "Yes, at the mines." just ask you whether you had heard it.' "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who hands. evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you bore every mark of being an average commonplace British better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "'Certainly not. But why?' American. Then who could this American be, and why should he providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me.