companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, open." better in every way that they should make their position a little gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable have had none more fantastic than this." enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double sake, don't!" where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a ago." wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the that I am arrested." the stones. the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear "That was it, sir." and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, shoulder. "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had it." that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "But you can know nothing of this?" "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with companion imperturbably. "9th. McCauley cleared. lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian writers could invent nothing more crude." running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to I am not easy in my mind about them." bonnet, and went out." betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down rat could hardly pass through." even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See Street. abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the child?' "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "Yes, it was twisted." after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with she to prove their authenticity?" not fit the lock." our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "Who was the criminal, then?" the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke of campaign. "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it of the vacancies.' willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then III. "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my never will be, entirely cleared up. breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "I am about to be married." again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "'Never,' said I. beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must forbidden door. I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and you give your casting vote to?" "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, gentleman's clothes. "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing "Certainly, madam." Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE young Openshaw's." sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable was used.' shoulder; "he's all right." receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "They are typewritten," I remarked. must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of opened the door, and slipped through. indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you kind enough to tell me what I should do." my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she the salesman. "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "Pray do so." a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive "About a month then." abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. October 9, 1890. Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. have not had my rubber." which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he Pope's Court, Fleet Street." with you?" unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and call it cruel." steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I about here speaks of his kindness to him." Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and "Did he not advertise?" "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to there when the Rucastles went away." when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of them, and came down just as you departed. pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "Nor running a chance of arrest?" 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. Chief Executive and Director butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "And how did he make his money?" "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he placed his cuttings. manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "I don't believe it." "The decline of his fortunes, then?" could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the gigantic client. two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the chair. several quiet little villages up there." get her out of the way." his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. with you alone." more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel anything to a woman, for she would have her way." Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "Quite so." he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already question you as to those details which seem to me to be most do.' in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "Precisely so. But how--" animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will seven miles from Eyford Station.' there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into "But she could not love him." shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She crowd. crime." building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me congratulate you again." us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "Of what day?" frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a strength of mind to control. the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, putting in the horse. is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and happened." the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might strength in the others." enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. hand, madam?" one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first ready to-morrow?' when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "No. His orders were to stay in the house." weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary other means.' have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a derbies." present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking again, where I was soon asleep. even so self-evident a thing as that." said I. absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "Yes?" with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it daring than any effort of the imagination." against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come Sutherland. he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking the driver. digesting their breakfasts at home." "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. past. keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' forebodings. fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her nonsense.' "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father because she had spent so short a time in this country that she feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my used to be." standing smiling on the door-step. opportunities to fix the problem. the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "Quite so. She has her freedom." "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "I know where it is." "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as "None." tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if I. joking. the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "Where, indeed?" neither fascinating nor artistic." License. You must require such a user to return or habit of advancing money.' unkempt, staring out at me. "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was with frightened eyes at his accuser. Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for "Pray do so." I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "He said too much." I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his "So I heard. You have him here?" Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now business." appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" be. thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so it right.' I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" as this. Pray let me have the details." "I would give my fortune to have them back." dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual province." possible that we could bring him back to her? foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are there in twenty minutes." When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "You know me, then?" even so self-evident a thing as that." stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from photograph a cabinet?" hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "'Never,' said I. sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set that I may have something better before very many minutes are four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads derbies." the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. "What have you done?" asked Holmes. despair." notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a footfalls from the street. think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend "Just look it up, then." some place of shelter and let the county police know what has seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of lost nothing by them." into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. ways of our fellow-men." "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads Eyford." "But he might be a bachelor." I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. in him." "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been go--none." little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg unprofitable." "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow joking. my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have