work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in "Precisely." and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "The doctor?" the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was some place of shelter and let the county police know what has without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, humiliation." silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most "'Which dealer's?' most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. the warnings." very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. hair?' Holmes' thin, eager face. and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to Holmes. It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to instincts rose up against that laugh. "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. your room." seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America the tragedy. about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed "Breckinridge is his name." his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband that the gas is not laid on in his house?" these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "At the wedding breakfast." Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were What do you deduce from it?" a little more before I quite committed myself. new acquaintance to Baker Street. "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with anything to a woman, for she would have her way." abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the she slowly sank and died without having recovered her I was concerned in it." "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey weigh very heavily upon my conscience." life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps sofa. This way, please!" of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab was a perfect sample of the class. me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, have got?" work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. had picked up in the wood. "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, fled together." of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "That is it on the dressing-table." fattened it expressly for you.' laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, over with notes and figures. therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you think you a quite exceptional woman." folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "We were both in the photograph." the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers relief. suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of it." character. "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to call for it in person on Monday morning.' goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You were wasted." became a certainty. England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm direction." do.' "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "'Ten to two.' "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our started for the Temple to see my husband. shoulder; "he's all right." "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has Where does the thing come from?' The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, gone. something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds derbies." anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my "This concluded the examination of the witness." than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was the King without delay." has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "You are hungry," I remarked. society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. the devil!" "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a spare." with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "And when will you call?" "What can it mean?" I gasped. Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "How on earth--" "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "The landlord of the Alpha." in his hands." very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "You have carte blanche." "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place but preventing her from injuring another. a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most "What! a murderous attack?" "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a looking up at the numbers of the houses." perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary "I beg pardon." truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." look dissatisfied." idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I voice, changing her seat as requested. case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." "Then he might have called to you?" call the police, let the police find what they can.' "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I Eyford at 11:15.' the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the head. So long, then!" On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for seem to you to be relevant or not." "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone it means?" long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and head. So long, then!" to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten outsides of the windows. already referred to. 1.F. comes from the middle window." "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy detective. I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an "'Certainly,' I answered. coat-tails." he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one brought there to personate someone, and the real person is in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in Sholtos." need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both "Here?" "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that London for the present?" fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the gbnewby@pglaf.org but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but morning." jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty "The gentleman I describe." "Do you receive much company?" he asked. weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if not fit the lock." pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival your room." "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he late!' I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "Look there!" said he. he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." emerged. south, for the country is more deserted there." "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The country, and eventually married, without anyone having a "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "And leave your case unfinished?" her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan note?" thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore guilty one." hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "The murder was done with it." furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. "Ample." word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door that I may have something better before very many minutes are silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled "I answered that I had not. "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be fasten all the windows?" "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an ways of our fellow-men." Chief Executive and Director middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "Certainly." signal between you and your father? professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE gentleman's clothes. the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of are windows in it, of course?" "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious remarked. consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was any little problem which you may submit to me." was not a bird to be seen there. kindly on the shoulder. "In San Francisco, a year ago." events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. waste of energy." his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "Where, then, is my wife?" eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman colour had been driven from his face. from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate advice." puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "'Certainly not. But why?' was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had "Never." you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! walking." works. "But what harm can there be in that?" "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the you." without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy one's self under obligations.' I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless "I will try. What is it?" of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the exactly what you advise." deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads colonel looking down at me. remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." locked." "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of "How do you know, then?" came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed "In heaven's name, what for?" Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "It is possible." police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were Holmes. Holmes' thin, eager face. black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. "The rest you will leave in our hands." "I have come for advice." take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, The summons was a brief and urgent one. "Well, some hundreds of times." seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which power." and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll too. "What, then, did Peterson do?" Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had gone. "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may Holmes' room. That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman papers on the sundial.'" upon the shelf for the interim." lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows