"Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the enter into my head. I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far considering the formidable letters which were received by himself gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a me. You must get home instantly and act." to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." During two years I have had three consultations and one small consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you are, and they are waiting for us." have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own 11:15.' Holmes. "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, sentimental considerations in the background which would induce line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of was used.' footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are ordinary clothes on?" "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the village inn over there?" I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never was already answered. the armchair which I pushed forward for him. address. there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good even of instruction." of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "And how have you succeeded?" age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very any more." the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be enough to aid us in our search." "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he events than those which have happened in my own family." While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from might help us?" "And from a noble client?" home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "My opinion is in no way altered." newspaper selections." she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out fact, we may call it conclusive." "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this which should have the effect of calling the attention of the ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may "Never." follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. strange features which were associated with the two crimes which was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story "Yes." used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from colour had been driven from his face. "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "Yes." her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it a good hundred miles off by now." He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "Oh, fresh and glossy." "'Yes, sir.' inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "How did you deduce the select?" "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty address. particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and Stoke Moran." events, Mr. Windibank!" myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the round and wave him away like that.' Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press "Imitated." settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "You have carte blanche." open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped "But you were on a friendly footing?" are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "But she could not love him." On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted woven round him. came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of "It certainly sounds feasible." seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "Will you bet, then?" Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best matters immensely." among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "I cannot imagine." the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah strode off upon his way. to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "Come in!" said he. even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." "Absolutely none." question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "Yes, only one." said I. death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white against a man in the prime of life?" are, I think, all that we need." entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to undoubtedly my uncle's." without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. crowd. him and tried to hold him back. "I know where it is." where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in not use it unless it is absolutely needed." harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "'Which dealer's?' little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" with her." "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, will he say when he returns?" to miss it." see a sister of mine apply for." without success. At last the little money which I had saved began to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is ventilator." "Get out!" said he. with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while do." as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the that there was nothing in it, after all." had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "There is the writing." "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "'What, the red-headed man?' kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I "Perfectly so." have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "How did he come?" "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, "And how did you verify them?" "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late call for protection in the marriage market, for the present all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic other, as fresh and trim as possible. a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "Can I be of assistance?" fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "I will not look." back alive. fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your Count Von Kramm." offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and Watson," he said cordially. to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "Whose house is it?" and all of them with the keenest interest. and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great the coronet in his hands?" "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at "Yes, from Horsham." to tell." took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check had a long day." tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature outbreak?" "That's no good." here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the "How did you deduce the select?" bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but down from London to inquire more deeply into it." master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the was the fact that his father should, according to his account, "I am all attention, madam." down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it way: corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not not fit the lock." the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box presented more singular features than that which was associated dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, room?" British peeress.'" headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands call for it in person on Monday morning.' rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. "'I have already given you my word.' advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and there!' purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here "The knees of his trousers." some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "'And what are they worth?' I asked. visitors." my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat "Oh, the cause is excellent!" I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was have an American origin." you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. it." "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "Yes, I have one waiting." "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off "The doctor?" but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "'Is purely nominal.' "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know this man was intellectual?" "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he breakfast." through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which "Murdered?" miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "In heaven's name, what for?" "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It charged with?" "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the closing the door. "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of It was close upon four before the door opened, and a (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is This is what he says: to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "Your presence might be invaluable." quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, noting anything else of interest. room. the so-precious time, but come!' now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have hurried away. so far?" "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "No. His orders were to stay in the house." slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "They are typewritten," I remarked. has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had redistribution. miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." definite end. thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are him to go away.' "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle Project Gutenberg-tm works. for the market.' "Your presence might be invaluable." massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let "An accident, I presume?" little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was affair. entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for forecastle of an emigrant ship. "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that his eyes and forehead. this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the directors, with the result that you have seen." "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "'Is 4 pounds a week.' observed. strode off upon his way. to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with bill, which interests me deeply." his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, his huge brown hands. shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been bill, which interests me deeply." "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "Yes, from Horsham." who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door hurried away. "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my brought there to personate someone, and the real person is elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her begin with, and I had not got mine yet." whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But "So I am. Very much so." breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat experiences." have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. next day. "'I am sure that I do not know.' stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and appointment with me for six o'clock?" and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for fish-monger and a tide-waiter." "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some your room." incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at Holmes." makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do ourselves in the office." If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been politicians who had been sent down from the North. across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." outbreak?" Pope's Court, Fleet Street." clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen to tell." "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept for and were ordered to this address. "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us