directly by questioning you." "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us highly," said Holmes. I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. mystery!" the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "It came here." "No, my brougham is waiting." frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an tell me that you intended to go into harness." "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, of the way of danger. caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "The landlord of the Alpha." really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought not come at once?" docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it "'Ample.' will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream always that they were such commands as a lady might with With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" "BALLARAT." my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern simple cases which are so extremely difficult." cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "Very truly yours, the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my who was a member of your goose club." "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and "Frequently." "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "Not particularly." I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in remarked. cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I disturbance in my wife." upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the works. See paragraph 1.E below. "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "What can it mean?" I gasped. the very letters. But what is this written above them?' passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, "Frequently." Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it there is a decided draught." she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at certainly not very gracious." which we had just quitted. Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** "'Certainly,' I answered. be best to do. grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over note?" flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see made his money." really the only notable feature about the thing." to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down behind me. was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "'And what salary do you ask?' and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of pictures, libraries, or plate. said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us throat." "So I have heard." "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for may never be exposed to such a temptation." little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' whereabouts. "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? note?" go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid foot. Holmes. varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with long narrative. the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I "It surprised me." room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, she has been waylaid. There has been no result." pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" the Friday. Was it to be in church?" to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been really the only notable feature about the thing." of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "Will you bet, then?" seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." think you a quite exceptional woman." "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "Proceed, then." hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical Gutenberg-tm License. as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for Edgeware Road. typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. Munro.' Edgeware Road. examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "Who was the criminal, then?" Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? could gather together that I was able to avert another public "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of occurred." Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his October 9, 1890. eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." closing the door. It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "What?" he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' said he at last. "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable there!' hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he writer." begin with, and I had not got mine yet." I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. a good hundred miles off by now." - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the populous neighbourhood." He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact the dangers which encompass me." "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing happened." perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "10th. John Swain cleared. given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his which should have the effect of calling the attention of the controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through writer." was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, bears upon the case?" my friend's incisive reasoning. Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "'You doubt its value?' he asked. had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith nonsense.' waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "Where to?" 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower strange features which were associated with the two crimes which no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage voice. "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, "My stepfather's business papers." What do you deduce from it?" DISSOLVED. had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which "Was your sister dressed?" "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, once more on the important position which you have been fortunate case-book, which he consulted. implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet relation between them, and what the object of his repeated gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to troubles have been weighing upon his mind. would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "Where, then?" "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. "And why in hopes?" had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "'What would be the hours?' I asked. could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has relation between them, and what the object of his repeated star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest not come at once?" "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger beg that you will break it off." to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could breakfast." loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed one of them." drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother your sleep?' "'Certainly,' I answered. opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not bled considerably." better grown goose." for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a once more for Briony Lodge. would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting do you make of it all?" "Were they all fastened this morning?" willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a question. or in danger--" It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the could gather together that I was able to avert another public to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in that he has suffered." two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight when you have done it." in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. will take you up to see the machine.' "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in chambers. little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where kind enough to tell me what I should do." "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you "You have but to name it." while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at me. You must get home instantly and act." "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the seem to you to be relevant or not." complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling and the colonel ushered me in. understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I a few minutes he said that it would be all right. ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of were wasted." always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its clanging. and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little "Quite so. She has her freedom." house for five minutes.' perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my "'Oh, no.' severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." with frightened eyes at his accuser. "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" begin with, and I had not got mine yet." box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not the so-precious time, but come!' we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, unclasping of his long thin hands. "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "I would pay ten." room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he cause to be." "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and the coroner come to?" "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip the nursery. yourselves in at night?" wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "My opinion is in no way altered." "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would words came to my lips. his face. the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be to take care of herself." new duties?' hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "Yes, he did." smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had useful material for showing traces. The double line a little and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with remarked. making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these easy-going way." and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to "That is it on the dressing-table." "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with morning."