it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and had picked up in the wood. "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" "Precisely so. But how--" as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium the best of training." the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "But she will refuse." "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll to affect your life." first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in to-morrow." "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own "Witness: It was. "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from helping a boy to put up the shutters. "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the business." "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it eat it." away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "I don't say that. Perhaps." of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and the side-table." "Then, how do you know?" been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere crime. "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. least a most suspicious remark." given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a brandy and water within his reach. and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow of receipt of the work. "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, "No." remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no in your London, you will know that the office of the company is search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "A greater distance to travel." "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I 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 "I cannot tell." business." "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this "Witness: Nothing definite. "Frequently." Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the down. ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "At what time?" "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear that the gas is not laid on in his house?" very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "10th. John Swain cleared. "I have come for advice." "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "Witness: I must still refuse. ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "Yes, I have one waiting." which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? "The Coroner: What do you mean? that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. "Where, then?" Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know directly by questioning you." "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "Where to?" insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. him!" merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did married her." about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." "But who is he?" chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "I should be immensely obliged to you." tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the "That is it on the dressing-table." we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his breakfast?" on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal "My private note-paper." man. she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded "There are none." he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "Look there!" said he. to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I the general public were present, then?" are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "Yes, at the mines." age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very "No legal papers or certificates?" purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "Stoke Moran?" said he. paper in the air. surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William "The vanishing of the lady." snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "I will, Miss Turner." for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I that there was nothing in it, after all." defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an The King stared at him in amazement. attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "I will try. What is it?" rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in views." refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "Whose house is it?" sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project "I see many objections to any such theory." "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, http://gutenberg.net/license). first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed will be renamed. There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "To an end?" Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you "That's no good." an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. geese which you supplied to the Alpha." silent! Oh, he will be silent!' gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the Arthur Conan Doyle "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, even of instruction." saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of Miss Holder?" against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." not, dad?" she asked. it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like happened." were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or interest. They are important, you understand, without being "One?" had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to might have a private word with us. "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was that you can jump it.' rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "I think it very unlikely." "'Certainly not.' "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your "How long did she speak to this Alice?" overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness unclasping of his long thin hands. really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "Precisely." them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall narrative." blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. your bag." suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you "But you were on a friendly footing?" meanly of me." anything to do with the matter?" receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." evidence," I remarked. at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great the loss of it. vault. the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was meant." to affect your life." to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong murdered man." came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched "Yes, the wine-cellar." will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said once more for Briony Lodge. Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than get her out of the way." his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "And your mother is alive?" "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City "Yes, sir." other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "Absolutely?" of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "You were travelling in the States?" "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary questionable one." anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "Well, it is a possible supposition." one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "Why, it's a dummy," said he. roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "My last client of the sort was a king." "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between been lifted and conveyed somewhere." You want to know what became of those geese?" "ARAT," I read. present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to within hail.' He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was the coronet in his hands?" "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he peculiar to him. the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own sufficient punishment." dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded "I guessed as much." out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "Your French gold?" Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal again." Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied.