"Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying my little problems." quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and have had none more fantastic than this." "But it has twice been burgled." you in your example." house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly you found me to-night--and running through the front room she cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged not come at once?" son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a writing, and yet I know it well." road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "'You cannot say what it was?' transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "And how have you succeeded?" appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "'Tell me all about it,' said I. here and I will read it to you: "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all intimate personal affairs in this public manner." Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and "That is it on the dressing-table." "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, bachelor.' I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, "How can you tell that?" that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the him to be an active member of the medical profession." "I cannot tell." full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If Literary Archive Foundation during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. our word." "VIOLET HUNTER." "'Yes, sir.' "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never maid will bring up your coffee." great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we interest. They are important, you understand, without being give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "I would pay ten." gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and in darkness. "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her danger is over." "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." there in twenty minutes." *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to thought that she would have been so carried away." "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" "And on what day did he meet his death?" the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "Certainly." hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low fact, we may call it conclusive." morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been plantation.' about. "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to "On Monday." that, and I came down." into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "ARAT," I read. in the port of London." "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "Has he come with you to-night?" higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely "No sign of it?" look dissatisfied." may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "Get out!" said he. see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all like gravel from a pit.' "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "And help." she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and this poor creature." highroad, where all traces were lost. "What?" platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss that you can jump it.' better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a lumber-room." trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every "Won't it ring?" address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have there when the Rucastles went away." often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "What have you done?" asked Holmes. a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was little adventures." reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, that before taking the final step I should like to submit the Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. his eyes and forehead. 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." is entirely a question of barometric pressure." "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where highly," said Holmes. "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and points to suicide?" why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "Perhaps I have." elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he dear old homesteads?" crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said girl said." say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the back into the street. from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing acquaintance?" DAMAGE. his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day what is your own theory as to what took place?" time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was his grey eyes. then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I looking up at the numbers of the houses." myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in undoubtedly my uncle's." "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, an introduction to him?" while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend union?" through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack "Ah, but I was recommended to you." hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this "Yes." Pope's Court. drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a guilty parties." outbreak?" or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "No more words. Get out!" to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged my friend's incisive reasoning. know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not were wasted." As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but night.' said he. undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by matter over." out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might at once, for I have only half an hour." lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and his face which made him a very different person to the round, like gravel from a pit.' to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my bearing upon the case." act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in upon the sideboard." turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." the armchair which I pushed forward for him. patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no "The rest you will leave in our hands." walking." dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "Is he quiet?" step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small populous neighbourhood." "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper hardly wander." practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out that there was nothing in it, after all." "I see no marks." hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "My stepfather's business papers." had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." Sutherland?" serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the believe that I should never have any practice at all. suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "The best possible." began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. asked. "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" fear." caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from "I see many objections to any such theory." force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark "'Tell me all about it,' said I. and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He and your relations to her." "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." quickly through a disagreeable task. "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by arrangements." nonsense.' from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "Pray do so." happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the the little opening for the ventilator is." "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. the so-precious time, but come!' sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "Do you know him?" down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "I cannot tell." in. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable power." "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down reach." over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I appeared upon the scene." hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very wall." forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just shadow pass over his face as I spoke. I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are "And how did he make his money?" "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and whether it answered to the description of any of their "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel "That is possible." persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be the bottom.' note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of up this clue while it is still hot." "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. I leave." ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter signal between you and your father? waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "What is it, then--a fire?" hurried by. and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom and glanced through. card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it might help us?" instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his chamber." nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side "Did you observe the colour?" "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary taking in every detail of the apartment. "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down Stoke Moran." outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen new duties?' Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong the Assizes." lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is was used.' carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the means taking possession of that which another person has a prior sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a gone before you can get him to hospital." do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, standing smiling on the door-step. "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through crime. the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough begin with, and I had not got mine yet." Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "It is true that I have been generally successful." "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day locked. and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all Arthur Conan Doyle the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of never came back." quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. had picked up in the wood. hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a interested in these little problems, and since you are good something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning danger is over." he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a