which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were overpowering excitement and concern. to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. other lovers by making love himself." "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I "It is a murder, then?" "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, the general public were present, then?" the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated Mrs. Toller serenely. stepfather?" bedroom door." I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in back into the street. "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than Pool. think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all hour." weighed down with some great anxiety. dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his of Fenchurch Street." about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an country, and eventually married, without anyone having a "Witness: It was. "But the mystery?" "That is easily got." should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "I say it is." hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we memory. to a more successful conclusion." husband's writing, madam." floor. plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. any more." "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or the ceiling. A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the strength." Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man directly by questioning you." make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story sake, don't!" horse could go." shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my "Which are?" Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put families. Now for the facts. The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that tightly behind him. the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a chance." had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other "To an English lawyer named Norton." followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his http://www.gutenberg.net the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since "Yes, the wine-cellar." outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "How can you tell that?" dramatic, in fact." freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "My private note-paper." his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very one of the states of the Union." before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich the running down." cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her despaired of." c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." vague figure huddled up in the darkness. through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the figure." inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their if I call to-morrow?" States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his "But you have hopes?" the roots. but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between the child." less than 26s. 4d. marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly eavesdroppers?' "Witness: Nothing definite. "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after certainly do as you advise." the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His strong reason behind." "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible the dangers which encompass me." little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money or other trace. But how on earth--" writing, and yet I know it well." his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "'How far from the body?' to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel photograph a cabinet?" "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my there when the Rucastles went away." his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought sound at heart." well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his system of imprisonment?" answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked served to weaken the effect. 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged until night should bring an explanation. "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade congenial hunt. same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you a very grave face. "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have at my own good fortune. Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I if only as a check to my own memory." half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "You have but to name it." "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for "Not in the least." hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my over with notes and figures. had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to "He is dead," cried several voices. upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of him to go away.' subject to the trademark license, especially commercial overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would the night.' with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, "I don't say that. Perhaps." her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of Street. a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your to tackle the facts." During two years I have had three consultations and one small weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "'It is locked up,' I answered. coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We writer." power." but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came asked with his eyes open. the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations to have been novel and of interest." "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "Yes, at the mines." "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his true." everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to locked. garden below. I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you Doctor, of the paper and the date." "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at Literary Archive Foundation rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their name is different." "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." tear off another piece?' them present such singular features as the strange train of roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, me upon any point which I do not make clear." very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came over with notes and figures. attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "I will not look." simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my so far?" served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in figure." "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If so far?" "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, "'How far from the body?' and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing problems help me to do so." indiscretion." adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded locked. ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I "'Never.' stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do papers diligently of late, have you not?" developed." saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "I think that it is very probable." "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove promised to bring home. "'Entirely.' he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your "And help." "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "It was." lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no bore every mark of being an average commonplace British Have you good authority for what you say?" "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. think you a quite exceptional woman." great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical very morning of my second wedding." "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, "I am armed." makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." at a side door. photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then cup of tea. size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "Yes, there are nearly always some there." prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to my special province." I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "You have compromised yourself seriously." corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and upon the shelf for the interim." of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the him. "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and held up the lantern and gazed about him. occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I II. and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "She will not sell." "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. be sorry for having acted so harshly." The police have openly confessed that they can at present make she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that ways of our fellow-men." that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual developed." everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and "The gentleman I describe." unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "'Tell me all about it,' said I. betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." Foundation homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. DAMAGE. gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. during which he might have communicated with his friend the than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "What can it mean?" I gasped. "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and returned to France?" conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should laugh and put his lips to my ear. "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I like that before?" is entirely a question of barometric pressure." Sholtos." "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have point in the dark hollow of his hand. be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a "Did your wife hear all this?" absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, least a most suspicious remark." "None. Neville wrote those words." "One of his hands." moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "You have compromised yourself seriously." homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is been able to understand it, in a very few words. "Pray continue your narrative." week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "How are you getting on?" ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" it." "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And "When did it break out?" never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I vanished into the darkness. "Yes, certainly." follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself them?" from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they peculiar to him. You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has chemical work which was so dear to him. The police have openly confessed that they can at present make dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself point in the dark hollow of his hand. Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" helping a boy to put up the shutters. "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong "Stolen, then." his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. "Will you go?" discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "It is a murder, then?" to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this "And it is--" course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other followed. Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked