I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing where she found matters as described by the last witness. a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "Whose house is it?" conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking acted in my house last night?" a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a "My opinion is in no way altered." loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was the dangers which encompass me." "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, of them has the shutters up.' "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the knowledge of the world." and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours out of this horrible affair." refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which pictures, libraries, or plate. English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a be sorry for having acted so harshly." the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that him, that man would not have given me such complete information money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, you want, then?' red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always should be taken.' robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "At half-wages, in fact." had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "There are none." offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she events, Mr. Windibank!" I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's Stoke Moran." four million human beings all jostling each other within the power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as for the market.' points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and and the colonel ushered me in. cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, occurred." particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was detective. the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which "'And the work?' "But we can't all be." "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my think that any burglar could have done. hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in nonsense.' window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her from you?" Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right "He is still with you, I presume?" which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "And I say east," said my patient. key of the affair now." pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical with you?" hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has this Miss Turner." statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia sneer upon his pale face. "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." singular points about the case. What did the police think of the ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "Will you bet, then?" "Very. But will he see it?" instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just "Always." "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will Dr. Gregory B. Newby from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding "But his left-handedness." there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three yet." remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought the iron safe, which he closed upon it. perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "But of what society?" out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "Precisely so. But how--" skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to I. spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and "How are you getting on?" matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that and all of them with the keenest interest. washing it down with a long draught of water. "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug as yours." extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo and your relations to her." bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked was feeling which was the fattest.' the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a upon an income of about 60 pounds." the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." me. "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor it." "Then I can wait in the next room." unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the to tell." been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at that "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "Where to?" daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. indeed happy." of it with the greatest attention. upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "And how in the world did you find them?" "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of companion imperturbably. actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "The best possible." "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to States. "Of Friday, June 19th." of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded had formerly been in part my own. with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations "That sounds a little paradoxical." in one or two places in England?' chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, to me. For additional contact information: "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I "I think that it is very probable." "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a me have 200 pounds?' and it need not interfere very much with one's other clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and nothing with him." already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and depend upon your compliance." the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, it. the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "'I have already given you my word.' "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his on in his house." son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in stalked out of the room. in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on within hail.' were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my way: bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is you want, then?' been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., to affect your life." copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a "So I am. Very much so." as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." sit on the left-hand side of the driver." Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a think that he is innocent?" "Yes, from Horsham." "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open as he remarks, very much against the son." disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "'In my own bureau.' sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman served to weaken the effect. yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though business?" jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "Yes, but only for you and me." The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no Mrs. Toller serenely. and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "And you can do nothing until then?" which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that speckled band?" brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a "What, then, did Peterson do?" and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such one which it was hard to resist. "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. ill-usage at the hands of fortune. perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, not within a twentieth part of the market price." door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "How many? I don't know." season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are Sutherland?" shall not find me ungrateful." strength of mind to control. off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point what I may call a really hard day's work." ran thus: "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave "There is the writing." "What! Had he lost his wife?" building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My "Yes, from Horsham." not use it unless it is absolutely needed." game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid question. is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander was keenly on my guard against him. Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself out." trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little "None." "How did he come?" with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up beyond words. He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a happened." words came to my lips. said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like redistribution. "Nothing." ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From right! Sit down and let us talk it over." on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a his knees, staring into the fire. much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. Sholtos." Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two point in the dark hollow of his hand. furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "And why in hopes?" specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent business at Coburg Square is serious." felt the room to be a little close.' "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have nice household for a young lady." Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been Lee, in the county of Kent." WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom