wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less "Your French gold?" poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect that?' took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been "How about poison?" shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain woven round him. found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the shag which I had seen upon the previous night. gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "Do you receive much company?" he asked. Lee, in the county of Kent." thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "And how?" I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do prisoner's face. "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "How long did she speak to this Alice?" no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards been anything against him. He had for years been known as a Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, himself to hunt down. importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for and the church but not where the lady lived." suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the disturbance in my wife." down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he photograph a cabinet?" as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, the very morning of the wedding." never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My shall not find me ungrateful." "And you don't know his address?" annoyance, but no jest. credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too lamp. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the window when the police appeared." Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him he. and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "Really! You surprise me." been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. is a common subject for conversation. beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "A confidential servant?" "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I families. Now for the facts. which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources the Friday. Was it to be in church?" "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." important." "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the placed his cuttings. father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears "Was she in good spirits?" where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer "His face fell immediately. constraint." and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and like that before?" for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is little trying to do so much typewriting?" over here." his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. "Nothing." a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you tell them apart.' money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what pierced for earrings?" very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last "Ah!" almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and trifles." with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his cause to be." ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on it." "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had "It is half-past ten now." the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, "But of what society?" received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which His name is Francis Prosper." To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back eat it." sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project directors have had misgivings upon the subject." She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to undoubtedly my uncle's." more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "10th. John Swain cleared. "No bad?" his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin "Tired-looking or fresh?" the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, o'clock is it?" access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided "Has he come with you to-night?" "No." "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple invisible to me," I remarked. Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter cigars in their mouths. "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner in him." The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one read it out to me." drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with what these perils are?" "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in in my life." He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he away in different directions, and I went off to make my own very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "Here?" and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under stalked out of the room. He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they you." found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly relief. Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "And how in the world did you find them?" door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "Yes?" "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." "'Ten to two.' Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his power." at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of the room while you explain this matter?" scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was wife's character?" very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he chance at all." bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and "'Is 4 pounds a week.' a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A words came to my lips. have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was "That you are never beaten." a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and fish-monger and a tide-waiter." naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It go--none." upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. sparkled upon his finger. Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of dramatic, in fact." judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his criminal. We have already had experience of such." the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which "But how did you gain them?" "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to very old mansion. 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and pictures, libraries, or plate. "A thing like a cleaver," said he. or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send will find little credit to be gained out of this case." hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been room?" and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a crime." when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which had died away into the silence from which it rose. my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open ways of our fellow-men." where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, hereditary King of Bohemia." anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "How are you getting on?" ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. directors, with the result that you have seen." The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "Did he not advertise?" examine." connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical presented which may be striking and bizarre without being matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back Holmes' room. journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you on re-entering her father's house?" stammered. in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad cigars in their mouths. his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. promised to bring home. "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the "No, I am descending." "And leave your case unfinished?" from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an o'clock is it?" "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project occurred." Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "'Which dealer's?' grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "I never have." "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the "Yes, he did." He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the in this note: ill-usage at the hands of fortune. There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that despaired of." "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering nonsense.' for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my Count Von Kramm." "Where is it, then?" "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. and your relations to her." idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, "What shall I do?" the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "You think so, too?" "Then he might have called to you?" hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and seem to you to be relevant or not." tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there "I cannot say that I have." fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "I see many objections to any such theory." convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. disturbance in my wife." "'Stolen!' he cried. "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, bird I ate is country bred." friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from "It is his hat." My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old in this way: remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a and looked back. the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I detained." Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences nice household for a young lady." not personally threatened." shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the even of instruction." fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past to tell." an introduction to him?" "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "Perhaps we may make them less so." "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "'About the same.' I shall continue with my miserable story. lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "From his hat?" circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and nonsense.' "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He little trying to do so much typewriting?" occupations.' the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson page at http://pglaf.org after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a money should be paid at once.' "How long did she speak to this Alice?" no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "And how did you verify them?" "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a your billet.' "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me