"'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from fish-monger and a tide-waiter." be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, address. chair. with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both Project Gutenberg-tm works. conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a chambers. that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. "Yes." me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it brought there to personate someone, and the real person is have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "Bought." But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch Street. "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "Were they all fastened this morning?" both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "And what did you learn from him?" myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. ready to-morrow?' "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his Eyford at 11:15.' door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It a suggestive one." "I promise," said Holmes. to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "Nothing." and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "I do." mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own 'I should be able to look after that for you.' Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "No legal papers or certificates?" They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me His name is Francis Prosper." the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, stepfather?" in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try Holmes rather sternly. see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "And why?" blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I the so-precious time, but come!' conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would face and glided from the room. matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the outsides of the windows. read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The you do it in twenty minutes!' What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "By no means." volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. My friend smiled. instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business and files of the old papers, following the future career of every "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "My photograph." "By train from Waterloo." "'Very good.' rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and envelope. in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some vague figure huddled up in the darkness. away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up other lovers by making love himself." saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. Miss Holder?" night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money "But the mystery?" entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged all?" in my life." "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as point in the dark hollow of his hand. Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There maiden herself was most instructive." was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the second." being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms man. Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the "I fear not." prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and photograph?" and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, absolutely follow my advice in every respect." your room." I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the we went to search for him, face downward in a little utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this returned to France?" where we are going." Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." "My private note-paper." the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "That is easily got." "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened "'I shall certainly be there.' Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal be.' "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "Was he the only applicant?" Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the against a man in the prime of life?" doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "And the murderer?" "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought yet." my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One The summons was a brief and urgent one. became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my call for it in person on Monday morning.' who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I before the coroner and the police-court." was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last I nodded again. "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to him to be an active member of the medical profession." chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. breakfast?" have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "My stepfather's business papers." had picked up in the wood. 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If Literary Archive Foundation "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "You have it, sir, just as it happened." "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "I have seen the police." "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is My friend smiled. days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "You think that he is dead?" lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be said he. security.' in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "I am all attention, madam." confronted him. which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "That's no good." guilty one." delirious. "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a "I am sure." morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to future lives." he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it "Yes. He waved his hands." equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the gone. week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some me." Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been again before evening." three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, fact, we may call it conclusive." though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "Yes." brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it "Why, it's a dummy," said he. bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of populous neighbourhood." "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle papers must be those that are destroyed.' trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "Not in a good cause." consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "The Cedars?" fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. Again Holmes raved in the air. foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me deduce something from that?" "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and James Windibank. Voilà tout!" blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing "Always." glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." out." "Then you may be so with me." father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to newspaper selections." Watson," he said cordially. "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I wife's character?" I was concerned in it." his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "And is that all?" however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "Yes. He waved his hands." "Very. But will he see it?" where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as people don't know." which should have the effect of calling the attention of the leaning back in his chair. "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "I shall most certainly do so." "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "Two days later this same performance was gone through under having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your the window, rose as we entered. I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." "When did she vanish, then?" "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and "I will, Miss Turner." of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle keep the flames under. the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that it. "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for 1.F. quick march!" prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to formed some opinion?" "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper outside. Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "At the wedding breakfast." steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." weigh very heavily upon my conscience." there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in you." home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his lost nothing by them." "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "I am to be neutral?" abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "At half-wages, in fact." The King stared at him in amazement. greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' new duties?' said I. "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, License. You must require such a user to return or find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up Holmes." agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step Leadenhall Street--and--" "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat gives a meaning to it." Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and particular state visit http://pglaf.org "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, Lestrade of Scotland Yard." bore every mark of being an average commonplace British Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice "Your French gold?" was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he see me here to avoid scandal." a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the "Have you her photograph?" seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, Leave Paddington by the 11:15." Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, or in danger--" sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face that before taking the final step I should like to submit the "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, Project Gutenberg-tm works. permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to lamp. Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 "'What do you call purely nominal?' has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting.