own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "'Most admirably.' "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's tassel actually lying upon the pillow. flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods a very grave face. studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal photograph?" which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as certainly do as you advise." Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful front of me. "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, "By no means." her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, DISSOLVED. much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "BALLARAT." ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "How many? I don't know." until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never the devil!" "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but "Upon what point?" after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I or in danger--" One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. "Yes?" upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true points in connection with it which never have been, and probably office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "What of the rat, then?" "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "But how?" me have 200 pounds?' "It is very kind of you." wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a undoubtedly my uncle's." "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and thought that she would have been so carried away." Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there the matter?" edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "The doctor?" opportunities to fix the problem. to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe Surrey." bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, my room." behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when "Yes, it was twisted." which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "What, then?" male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "You horrify me." "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father depend upon my doing so.' wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still stepfather?" the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever this man was intellectual?" here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a strong and stiff." the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to to tackle the facts." "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather are, and they are waiting for us." far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as said I. "Eh? What was that?" Holmes." it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the this remarkable episode. the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "'Never,' said I. including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" But Holmes shook his head gravely. "Certainly, madam." and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in situation." nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to his fortune, and I went back to pa. the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist has little to do with my story." burst out into a roar of laughter. "'Yes, sir.' daring than any effort of the imagination." the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. remarked. the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported "Ten will be early enough." however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had introspective fashion. "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I "'And what salary do you ask?' could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then we went to search for him, face downward in a little and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "There is the writing." the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and than to us. trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your prisoner's face. them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, definite end. supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in down. acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than States. and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the "Frequently." Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I quite distinctive." it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his sound at heart." I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get is four-and-twenty." already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed observed. "Then what has happened to him?" already been minutely examined." Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin felt?" shag which I had seen upon the previous night. loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked have an American origin." some mystery and the punishment of some crime." photograph a cabinet?" The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said nothing of it?" you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked there were so many in the whole country as were brought together plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an stammered. "BALLARAT." invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to derbies." III. him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right our word." the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to taking in every detail of the apartment. more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and introspective fashion. country, and eventually married, without anyone having a was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not distinguish the words: stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the would apply.' drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" important." details should find their way into the papers. Inspector individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates other lovers by making love himself." as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. "How did he come?" "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock answered with a sidelong glance. Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "What?" used to be." one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't quite distinctive." work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & "You are all wrong." Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest light and attacked it." "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons was a lad." absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but most important business. It is probable that he will be away all "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. certainly do as you advise." an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this corner of the building. word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but Miss Holder?" from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb telegram would bring me down to your help." completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father "But who is he?" Leadenhall Street--and--" into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I "And that is--" "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when What do you deduce from it?" passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with one else, I think." coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with indeed happy." standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side "'Yes, sir.' "An accident, I presume?" learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual is a common subject for conversation. Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I returning from some small jollification and was making his way matter over." writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." sparkled upon his finger. open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. you, my dear young lady?' "And how in the world did you find them?" sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason said Mr. Holder. "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry meant." that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's you?' desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. the stable lane now." us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a "Could he throw no light?" "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated envelope. helping a boy to put up the shutters. even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk Dr. Gregory B. Newby Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the "It may not come to that," said Holmes. in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was standing smiling on the door-step. branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "I never have." into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the round and wave him away like that.' "No." head. So long, then!" although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his south, for the country is more deserted there." should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "Thank you. And your address?" he bowed and left the room without another word. practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many that you saw all that I did." "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." asked. "Certainly." vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." "I was mad--insane." "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from felt?" Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "Was he the only applicant?" "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "I think it very unlikely." "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can girl said." Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the and it need not interfere very much with one's other meanly of me." Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down directors have had misgivings upon the subject." inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "Of what day?" figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "Then I can wait in the next room." before the coroner and the police-court." assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced that you saw all that I did." firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that