to have been novel and of interest." England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue and capable of preserving a secret.' saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace my former friend and companion. heavily into it. an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark orange pips. and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then vanished into the darkness. "Perhaps I have." to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as absorbing." tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "It was a confession," I ejaculated. the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "My photograph." the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, without success. At last the little money which I had saved began matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "Yes, sir." call you and give you the chance." on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two the iron safe, which he closed upon it. Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." been lifted and conveyed somewhere." "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated do.' "That is it on the dressing-table." "Do you go out much in society?" each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the woven round him. turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "Nothing?" pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob arrested. You then--" "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were daring than any effort of the imagination." And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." "My opinion is in no way altered." "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately "That is not always so easy." more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "Was there a secret marriage?" your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her "In which, sir?" which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told "They are typewritten," I remarked. "Yes, but only for you and me." groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the asked. me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it unclasping of his long thin hands. "It is a murder, then?" zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "And who is her maid?" returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." place, I think that there is good ground to think that the His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project results." fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of opened a pocket-book and took out a note. leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "My private note-paper." hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet "But she will refuse." I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "A client, then?" drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and Countess of Morcar's?" "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One absorbing." position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to ceremony." "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton States. you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you back into the street. boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my "It is possible." "And from a noble client?" in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little appointment with me for six o'clock?" The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate "You have a clue?" on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be lips." appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but the window, rose as we entered. knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I and your relations to her." Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, recall any case within my experience which looked at the first hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive lost his Christmas dinner." weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal drove away. "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was night.' said he. three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands Project Gutenberg-tm works. "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I locked. permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, and wait." particular state visit http://pglaf.org dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that straighten it?" "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I certainly do as you advise." painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off during which he might have communicated with his friend the opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads following enigmatical notices: one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner have had none more fantastic than this." "'Certainly,' I answered. familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is envelope. "I cannot think." Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "I answered that I had not. my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, vanished into the darkness. endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had companion quietly. wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of looking up at the numbers of the houses." "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or fait accompli?" "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. the driver. that upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was hard-headed British jury." cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which of Fenchurch Street." "I should wish to." the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was get her out of the way." aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you be best to do. "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "'Ten to two.' "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "At half-wages, in fact." the general public were present, then?" "One of his hands." "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in putting in the horse. "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be take the flies, but not before." wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "'You cannot say what it was?' centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, tension within him. "But what harm can there be in that?" hands. locked." think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "No bad?" wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I the date of his supposed suicide." understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." be best to do. black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. went to the Alpha were town bred." editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. ready to-morrow?' but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' as noiselessly as she had come. condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "Dr. Becher's." lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates remarked. inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the done what I asked you, Jones?" that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was she used." doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with have had none more fantastic than this." exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the bled considerably." abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and take the flies, but not before." to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my she might be summoned. time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of call for it in person on Monday morning.' your billet.' came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "Did he not advertise?" the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been was the fact that his father should, according to his account, have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" an introduction to him?" pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were outbreak?" than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" strength in the others." "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward attention." the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did information in his hands the value of which he did not himself "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San in your London, you will know that the office of the company is confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" and all of them with the keenest interest. shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, "A call for help, you thought?" into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "Yes, there are nearly always some there." "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "The Coroner: What do you mean? the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "You are all wrong." Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern your equipment. "Never to return." study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. his cane at the bell-pull. "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I breakfast?" "Pray do so." be best to do. and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon empty. "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same point our research must commence, and we will begin it by father's young wife. Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez again." morning." - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" frequently gained my first real insight into the character of the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from your own bird, so if you wish--" the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will tightly behind him. chemical work which was so dear to him. home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am asked. "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a nothing with him." exactly what you advise." my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning