crime. our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "Absolutely none." chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible Holmes." Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that once more. Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. and a shock of very red hair. "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry writer." wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter conceal it?" "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What you?' "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "I know where it is." follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "Where, then?" ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the in his power. "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not interested in these little problems, and since you are good "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of "'In my own bureau.' disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "Yes, it was twisted." McCarthy." bled considerably." where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he details should find their way into the papers. Inspector "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the as he folded up the epistle. significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "You are hungry," I remarked. from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting "Ah!" making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy "And now?" He raised his hand. and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "I answered that I had not. heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most "How did that help you?" beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." sooner or later she must fall a victim. swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the me where it went to?" I. "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, the running down." sake, don't!" that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, later, upon the night of May 2nd." "I say it is." back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. Leadenhall Street--and--" suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, "'Why that?' I asks. see a sister of mine apply for." idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, society." as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was the morning and make my own way in the world.' "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. "My photograph." "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "No." social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I envelope. envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. views." On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." and glanced through. "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out Doctor, of the paper and the date." side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have to miss it." the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I the house with me." was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "Just look it up, then." instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary that before taking the final step I should like to submit the he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at For additional contact information: remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, "That is also quite modern," said the lady. pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped "Imitated." very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I and wait." of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." him to go away.' bed dies. Does not that strike you?" sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of "And that is--" does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's "That is easily got." foresight and the moral retrogression?" "I guessed as much." possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "How about poison?" Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." is now desirous of getting those letters back." of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him went to the Alpha were town bred." fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no and that he would see to anything that turned up. "'And the work?' Holmes. mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to handed it to him. emerged. Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said the date of his supposed suicide." Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress was already answered. have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "It surprised me." a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "Ten will be early enough." nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but directors, with the result that you have seen." I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "None." hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and "To an English lawyer named Norton." "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I papers must be those that are destroyed.' collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "How did you trace it, then?" inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very one which it was hard to resist. "Did he not advertise?" "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room "What can it mean?" I gasped. "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" will not take me long to tell. was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "Was he the only applicant?" photograph?" cigar and let me expound." "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? about. 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, "Then how many are there?" happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "He might." It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet client, rising. end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "It is true that I have been generally successful." "Yes." "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor It was close upon four before the door opened, and a his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport "Then I can wait in the next room." have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. you." He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the closely." "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle "Was there a secret marriage?" springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. wedding?" souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I asked with his eyes open. amused." conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." "I think that it is very probable." that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "You heard nothing yourself last night?" confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window the one as in the other." "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." "'Why that?' I asks. moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, here and I will read it to you: to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are it. Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. do you make of it all?" a very grave face. erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already "Well, but China?" "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "By all means." and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "So I heard. You have him here?" few hundred pounds.' and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt side. to you." have established a very serious case against the son of the vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see with her." never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been what these perils are?" wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not bled considerably." triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly occupations.' acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it to talk it over. rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of future lives." "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for unprofitable." "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "Yes." "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." undoubtedly my uncle's." "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was could not have written that. It is the German who is so too. direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "What, then?" armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a was it brought him the coronet? heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were an introduction to him?" returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while meant." "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him it were putty." determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" way: that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every there in twenty minutes." and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. was feeling which was the fattest.' I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how assist you in forming an opinion." the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third "Yes." rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the happened." were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, fact, we may call it conclusive." Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year Gutenberg-tm License. "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as "Very well, sir. And this stone?" be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included without a word or a look. attention." "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor in the port of London." thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few use an arc-and-compass breastpin." Sholtos." small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "No, but the enclosure is." far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and as this. Pray let me have the details." morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "Oh, the cause is excellent!" there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." the side-table." daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "Perhaps I have." colonel looking down at me. clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my you." may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not "Yes, from Horsham." have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried