family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" nonsense.' down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham the Red-headed League." "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." "Not social, then?" who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid tear off another piece?' it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "Not in a good cause." For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "Never to return." the coronet in his hands?" "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years returned to France?" opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. both be extremely obliged.' she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he Farm upon the left." hour?' are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over "My last client of the sort was a king." value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the "Which surely he restored to their owner?" have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to this truth that in these little records of our cases which you "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, must compliment you." had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait answered with a sidelong glance. "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was suddenly upon us." of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can indeed happy." let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the highly," said Holmes. a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little crime. were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The "It was an hour's good drive." compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of "So I heard. You have him here?" "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right business in the City. She little knew what. the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "Not in the least." very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, the stable lane now." thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time in his power. disappearance of these gems?" tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you have had none more fantastic than this." "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we "No." for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "I was afraid that you were engaged." "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was strength." "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon chance at all." I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "Why did you beat the pavement?" that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My are windows in it, of course?" way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "Was there a secret marriage?" pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the from you?" sit on the left-hand side of the driver." Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use unprecedented a position." The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing frequently gained my first real insight into the character of Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "And that is--" little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door absorbing." table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "Do you receive much company?" he asked. "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. visitors." "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "And is that all?" interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "You think that he is dead?" King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." young Openshaw's." house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door will find little credit to be gained out of this case." such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." most interesting one." bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and read over the extraordinary announcement. to tell." About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of "Holmes, the busybody!" And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace ready to-morrow?' you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "Pray do so." I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. unprecedented a position." took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let washing it down with a long draught of water. "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' about here speaks of his kindness to him." reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her photograph a cabinet?" "Quite so." all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "No, I think that I'll take it." preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon hands. "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is promised to bring home. wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between this unhappy family?" before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "Never." "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, had this final quarrel? the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the to go into your room and bar your shutters?" my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such man. abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "'You doubt its value?' he asked. really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the "You'll never persuade me to believe that." drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage You can understand that this register and diary may implicate of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "I was sure that I might rely on you." prepare for the new role I have to play." became a certainty. adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of obstinate." forebodings. should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an "Where, indeed?" "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at like gravel from a pit.' "Quite so." shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several hurried by. "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters I have it here in my museum." as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he "Stoke Moran?" said he. His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled "'Oh, no.' "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove were new raised from a basin. husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "But his lameness?" "And for present expenses?" the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for despaired of." Where does the thing come from?' "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, Leadenhall Street--and--" laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists all that?" time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. in this note: "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "Then, how do you know?" "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time 1.F. have I gained?" matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, Pope's Court. been lifted and conveyed somewhere." and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' and the whole place is in a blaze." firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for minor matters until to-morrow." he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "He is still with you, I presume?" "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons reach." "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have arrangements." magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding hurried away. vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove room?" questionable one." Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing a good hundred miles off by now." Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows been able to understand it, in a very few words. "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "No bad?" he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn intimate personal affairs in this public manner." "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew over his head with a sweet womanly caress. reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. again on its way. details should find their way into the papers. Inspector company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You that I may have something better before very many minutes are Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait into her hand at the door and which lured her within their 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a from the brougham. the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire evidence," I remarked. is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. the so-precious time, but come!' were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the figure." Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed if she died from some sudden fright." - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while over part of the map. "What do you read?" really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I away in different directions, and I went off to make my own the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend you in yours." derbies." dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not at my remark. know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "But you would not advise me to refuse?" enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and and all of them with the keenest interest. Holmes' thin, eager face. "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "I should like to see him very much." late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found as he remarks, very much against the son." "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another orange pips. dramatic, in fact." Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "Have you it here?" Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' "But how?" clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this cup of tea. "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their "Stolen, then." desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed case-book, which he consulted. "Then how many are there?" push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" use an arc-and-compass breastpin." There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the giving me time to thank him. sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business you understand?" Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich already referred to. friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a "And how did you verify them?" little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts intimate personal affairs in this public manner." town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless front of me. her also." "In heaven's name, what for?" "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to not, dad?" she asked. will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "You were travelling in the States?" Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." outside." pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it John Swain, of St. Augustine. which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for trifles." refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to fluttered off among the others. "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long even so self-evident a thing as that." return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "Of Friday, June 19th." dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, Holmes." home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was with the outside air!"