for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted 11:15.' suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "None." "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" six. Come in!" overpowering excitement and concern. that I am arrested." therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. records." have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. furiously. answer." his cane at the bell-pull. chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which McCarthy." clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. "No." are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We unclasping of his long thin hands. who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching the very morning of the wedding." papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and and glanced through. through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "And Irene Adler?" "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and Where does the thing come from?' came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house examination of the premises, but without finding anything which it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was newspaper selections." be.' stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "One?" "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with come either from the window or the door. My attention was London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been visitors." "What! You do not mean bodies?" It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "Tired-looking or fresh?" over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to individual and becomes the badge of a society." my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, Holmes." They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." "Never." had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. success. metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you whole matter to your consideration." not interfere, come what may. You understand?" sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the people don't know." that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat hardly wander." gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they 1.E.9. man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "He disappeared so suddenly." from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is Eyford at 11:15.' thirty. self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. ways including including checks, online payments and credit card but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and for the market.' "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as in this note: that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than I nodded to show that I had heard. criminal. We have already had experience of such." compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just that, and I came down." mystery!" my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his directly by questioning you." which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "It's nothing of the kind." Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "Then you may be so with me." "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could just called myself is not exactly my own." go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing points in connection with it which never have been, and probably unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." indeed happy." Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" read over the extraordinary announcement. it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton hands. been lifted and conveyed somewhere." hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of forebodings. considering the formidable letters which were received by himself evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something not within a twentieth part of the market price." voice, changing her seat as requested. been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an to some other building. "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I Surrey." muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the seen the man in the road." it." "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming "Nor running a chance of arrest?" it." "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our suddenly upon us." or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. future lives." fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I away into the river." "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will McCarthy." "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No distinguish the words: Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than she slowly sank and died without having recovered her ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might returned to France?" down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to been with you?" this unhappy family?" preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I from you?" finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "Well, but China?" eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "They are typewritten," I remarked. drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge mysterious business." schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent neither fascinating nor artistic." "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in handed it to him. strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. down. Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ and all of them with the keenest interest. weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out footfalls from the street. knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, front of me. down from London to inquire more deeply into it." expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "Very well, sir. And this stone?" bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "You have carte blanche." Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little your only hope of safety." "Yes, it was twisted." as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and the tragedy. sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "I was certainly surprised to find you there." seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "You saw the ventilator, too?" the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed bill, which interests me deeply." other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "I have solved it." his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away it with his own hands." in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little which should have the effect of calling the attention of the paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the clang of the bell. They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. "At half-wages, in fact." through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any I nodded to show that I had heard. "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO have I gained?" stalked out of the room. happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "'Is purely nominal.' monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not "'Very good.' shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in up this clue while it is still hot." that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from key of the affair now." He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with whereabouts. return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "Your sister is dead, then?" in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "And did you observe any change in her then?" given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge south, for the country is more deserted there." you." near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; During two years I have had three consultations and one small "And that is--" PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE know all about it," he snarled. "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" just ask you whether you had heard it.' Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "But how did you gain them?" "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." together. "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white orange pips. carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "No legal papers or certificates?" be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any "If I can be of use." with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "So I heard. You have him here?" "I assure you that I am in your hands." to you." "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know "Never." lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" she might be summoned. been with you?" column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I tell him that I know him to be innocent." Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, was keenly on my guard against him. Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag "Certainly." "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "And why?" sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and results." "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella "And Miss Sutherland?" typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of sentimental considerations in the background which would induce He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was foresight and the moral retrogression?" that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches McCarthy." Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "You have it, sir, just as it happened." fait accompli?" that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong manager. "How often?" point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that maid will bring up your coffee." quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "How did you trace it, then?" at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with annoyance, but no jest. see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter fuss that is made over them." spare." surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in and shall probably return to London by the evening train." once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I followed. chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled waste of energy." the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered