hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of furiously. left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but and that he would see to anything that turned up. will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little people in all walks of life. if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. "Never." the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "Yes, all." about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "Then how many are there?" Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself upon the sideboard." Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "And I to find an enemy." IS "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to are, and they are waiting for us." nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and "Yes, there are nearly always some there." How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned depend upon your compliance." she to prove their authenticity?" "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily go--none." which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for quite distinctive." McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I such person." "What do you make of that, Watson?" Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the putting in the horse. rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears will be renamed. walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a third from London." safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day "Certainly." noting anything else of interest. came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those look upon these things in a different way." spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. "Nor running a chance of arrest?" have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when to tell." Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." delighted to hear it," he said. arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. bed dies. Does not that strike you?" dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "Now, then, what's the last entry?" my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if "He might." "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I "He is still with you, I presume?" fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little occurred." the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "I don't say that. Perhaps." blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such God! What an exposure! What can I do?" even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and looking up at the numbers of the houses." had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white six. Come in!" "Then I am your man." that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "By train from Waterloo." herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to roused himself from his reverie. well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. father's place of business?" push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it "Precisely." into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H one of them." over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body are, I think, all that we need." "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his this remarkable episode. prepare for the new role I have to play." passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as could not account in any way for the presence of the missing Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight "ARAT," I read. utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this The events in question occurred in the early days of my Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk been able to understand it, in a very few words. twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay excitement. unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "But I am all in the dark." call you and give you the chance." But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those suspect him." "But not more so than I to find you." predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most article?" have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may this as likely?" thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" upon the shelf for the interim." the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out done what I asked you, Jones?" facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, down. "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we you want, then?' "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the Eyford." glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and the Friday. Was it to be in church?" "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. him." "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's prisoner's face. and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly pressing in one house as in another. "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. so far?" I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet indeed which he could not unravel. when your master had gone out." "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two "Have you it here?" suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind green of the new foliage. "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge over here." Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a copied or distributed: "Is he quiet?" anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck never will be, entirely cleared up. dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and any little problem which you may submit to me." every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." observed. prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his for its centre. Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped one's self under obligations.' idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. what is your own theory as to what took place?" did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, lids now and glanced across at his visitor. decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," "At half-wages, in fact." iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and guilty one." that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "One horse?" interjected Holmes. goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "Is he quiet?" my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to his wife has ceased to love him." It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in next day. room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, dramatic, in fact." eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the believe that I should never have any practice at all. God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such noise which awoke you from your sleep?" and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in detained." the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is with you?" very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it yet." was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, I was concerned in it." him and tried to hold him back. her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never Miss Holder?" "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "I cannot imagine." unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable way in everything. Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies "Of what day?" turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "On your arm?" serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of "I say that I have solved it." girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "But we can't all be." test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "Have you her photograph?" side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely presume?" watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic This is what he says: "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I "I don't say that. Perhaps." down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do have established a very serious case against the son of the "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had lost his Christmas dinner." headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry "I am to be neutral?" should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both Pool. "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet gentleman's clothes. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever "No good news?" "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: girl said." who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." room. lamp in his hand. over part of the map. "What do you read?" examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "10th. John Swain cleared. "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," at once, for I have only half an hour." of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in the coroner come to?" dead, shall be safe with us." St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very round with crates and massive boxes. When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some telegram would bring me down to your help." showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. on re-entering her father's house?" in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to singular points about the case. What did the police think of the him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting I think that I could be of assistance to you." only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the room. and all of them with the keenest interest. direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable strode off upon his way. "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. "Yes." specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in stood on the top of it. "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home tension within him. however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider writers could invent nothing more crude." "How are you getting on?" make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a at a side door. The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in