envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before opened a pocket-book and took out a note. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing humiliation." SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "How did you trace it, then?" "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "My last client of the sort was a king." basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and you." ready to-morrow?' "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "'Very good.' "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both girl said." before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the feature." bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open "No good news?" when your master had gone out." "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some attention." stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the written. "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "It must be recovered." back to my heart. comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "'Is purely nominal.' "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet key of the affair now." 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was brought there to personate someone, and the real person is instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow families. Now for the facts. hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the "'Very good.' License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. business at Coburg Square is serious." the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his to tackle the facts." a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "That's no good." hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. The summons was a brief and urgent one. "It is no ordinary one." "It is half-past ten now." loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "Nothing." "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon enough to aid us in our search." sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of "Yes, sir." Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "I am following you closely," I answered. Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "I say that I have solved it." an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared Holmes." "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of Mrs. Toller serenely. "From his hat?" "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. "What, then, did Peterson do?" "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to opened a pocket-book and took out a note. d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility Munro.' protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a before the coroner and the police-court." Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more observed. livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had washing it down with a long draught of water. persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "That is possible." the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." was once confined in the cab my mission was practically that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning legal crime." http://gutenberg.net/license). has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "But we can't all be." better in every way that they should make their position a little Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "You have compromised yourself seriously." detained." "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I was the fact that his father should, according to his account, she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "What can you not understand?" business came to an end." "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the your sleep?' little adventures." sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of of the efforts of the United States government and of the better whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it empty. mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and him!" its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed least a fellow-countryman. of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well some city in a dream. should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "Why, it's a dummy," said he. but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting asked. "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your to-night?' "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, "Nothing." this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "No good news?" it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. front of the hall door has given its name to the place. year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and his huge brown hands. "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may their singular warning or token before them when starting upon the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. "'Yes, I promise.' writer." cause to be." to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a "Where is it, then?" sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. photograph a cabinet?" "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black against a man in the prime of life?" "In what way?" asked Holmes. Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, Munro.' "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "Why did you pick him?" "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were think that he is innocent?" Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," about. owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "What then?" a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the has little to do with my story." again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons "'Entirely.' "I came to find a friend." the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite "She walked into the breakfast-room." back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with opportunities to fix the problem. thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of astonishment. brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow feature." about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a later, upon the night of May 2nd." once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for you." wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the papers must be those that are destroyed.' unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, again, where I was soon asleep. come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her married her." hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few Gutenberg-tm License. Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." pressing in one house as in another. "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with call for it in person on Monday morning.' great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and Sutherland?" the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite carried out of court." "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a "What can it mean?" I gasped. betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." "What is it, then--a fire?" pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in did not hear it also.' October 9, 1890. "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and suggested at once that there must be a communication between the passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, to where he stood hid behind the curtain. got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of populous neighbourhood." the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "'I shall certainly be there.' "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a Holmes. and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or over here." where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other distinguish the words: hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle "No, but the enclosure is." "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his house for five minutes.' banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "She showed me, as I told you she would." Arthur Conan Doyle address. low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, Stoke Moran." and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "No. His orders were to stay in the house." pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. prove to be little relation between the different incidents of Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the vault. "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that his wife has ceased to love him." the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the Doctor, of the paper and the date." providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "Just look it up, then." I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl "Precisely." to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under outbreak?" colour had been driven from his face. myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's relation between them, and what the object of his repeated Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards examine." "So it appears." "Stolen." "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key "'What would be the hours?' I asked. Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever the coronet in his hand?" "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in "I cannot imagine." reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that becomes even more simple." "It is half-past ten now." rose-bushes. customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if writing, and yet I know it well." "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my would then never go into court at all." flock.' chance." There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited Watson," he said cordially. the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are opened a pocket-book and took out a note. a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low