new duties?' "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the lamp in his hand. again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her since then to throw any light upon what became of him." warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, were new raised from a basin. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "He is still with you, I presume?" his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "Was your sister dressed?" held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My door?" a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she national property. I was determined that the law should have its remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' outbreak?" the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "And how did you verify them?" finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by confronted him. himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." you, my dear young lady?' better grown goose." trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to once more for Briony Lodge. in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "Have you it here?" were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." public press." was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "We were both in the photograph." "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered where Mr. Fordham shows you.' prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just "The landlord of the Alpha." astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction lost nothing by them." "But how did you gain them?" affection." inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy at my remark. cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "Why did you beat the pavement?" against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, "Her father is very rich?" each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which mystery!" and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little "But he might be a bachelor." the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the answered with a sidelong glance. "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some in this way: his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he Gutenberg-tm License. course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the as yours." Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "Then you may entirely rely on me." wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from The police have openly confessed that they can at present make "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to dear old homesteads?" 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would "My dear Holmes!" Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter point in the dark hollow of his hand. her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property a good hundred miles off by now." of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his before, for it was considerably after midnight. "How did that help you?" and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and Have you good authority for what you say?" discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "To an end?" "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that the south-west, I see." breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "So it appears." future lives." and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those my secret was safe in his possession. spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New was shining brightly. for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking views." details should find their way into the papers. Inspector glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you Clair, of Lee." be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was "An accident, I presume?" delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly at my remark. Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. of fine shops and stately business premises that they really machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the to-night?' conceal it?" "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his must compliment you." landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a "Murdered?" relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was the nursery. we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring your troubles." Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some seven miles from Eyford Station.' "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in Count Von Kramm." "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at own family. ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere vault. have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not in my life." that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" was lame." when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be "On your arm?" conclusions. may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical gentleman's clothes. delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting said I. from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the infinite languor in his face. you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George and put his glass in his pocket. have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one opened the door, and slipped through. over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, the coronet in his hand?" old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from to-night?' seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in both be extremely obliged.' I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open if I call to-morrow?" little adventures." ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, the matter?" to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the "And I." doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There that before taking the final step I should like to submit the actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have "Why, it's a dummy," said he. King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "I see no marks." at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "'Yes, it was gone.' is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is "My dear Holmes!" would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that you." "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does British peeress.'" "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. him!" keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right tear off another piece?' "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive you want, then?' "Pray do so." completely overtopped every other consideration that we both since then to throw any light upon what became of him." McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general ways of our fellow-men." "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "And I say east," said my patient. my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his politicians who had been sent down from the North. "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had "Yes." the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout emerged. "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt round and wave him away like that.' ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental get the tickets." be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would "We were both in the photograph." for and were ordered to this address. wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. if I call to-morrow?" who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a colonel looking down at me. "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But went to the Alpha were town bred." investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, a suggestive one." manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very future lives." possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" ways including including checks, online payments and credit card "Entirely." young Openshaw's." is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "'What then?' I asked. back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a the King without delay." He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer "Witness: I must still refuse. "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my "It is no ordinary one." Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "She walked into the breakfast-room." their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of "And you thought he was pulled back?" "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then the child." some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, was a loud and authoritative tap. who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through fuss that is made over them." closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. your Highness to the police-station?" appeal." ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but business?" brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, introspective fashion. o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right been lifted and conveyed somewhere." traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks it means?" "Very well, sir. And this stone?" the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his open." felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped me, and I could not think that his explanation of the had a long day." allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and soul! here is her carriage at the door." paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own heavily into it. bachelor.' uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual business?" a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of "No legal papers or certificates?" and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you to that open window." errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the vault. name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, introspective fashion. "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings.