was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when drove away. "Witness: Nothing definite. "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "The murder was done with it." my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. have not had my rubber." "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your a room. "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. strength of mind to control. The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "No good news?" "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "The gentleman I describe." "And I to find an enemy." with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my looking up at the numbers of the houses." contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his village inn over there?" comes from the middle window." unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord outside. charged with?" "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "Yes." the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" posted to-day." fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the upon a handsome competence. flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do bed dies. Does not that strike you?" from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass returning from some small jollification and was making his way satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, colonel looking down at me. "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the one of them." what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "Nothing?" papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the and it need not interfere very much with one's other to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed "I am following you closely," I answered. With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at the running down." pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "I shall most certainly do so." distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter been with you?" "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. anything to do with the matter?" what do you think they found in the pockets?" violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. charged with?" not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully You can understand that this register and diary may implicate mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I my former friend and companion. "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "It is no ordinary one." secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "Was there a secret marriage?" the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." man. waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. go back?" order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. his knees, staring into the fire. myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker and no precautions can guard against." "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been "What will you do, then?" Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was criminal. We have already had experience of such." that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that orange pips. became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done "'What, the red-headed man?' "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "Of Friday, June 19th." whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another to some other building. have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "None." to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his the loss of it. ceremony." explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, "Then I am your man." she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then hand, madam?" "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with "But how will you look?" go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all ago." Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "Well, but China?" 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to a good hundred miles off by now." was lame." the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "'Most admirably.' and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next miles off. I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he "And who is her maid?" "Not particularly." Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this "And what did you learn from him?" Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the in a friendly supper." "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "And why in hopes?" "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "But what will you do?" closing the door. impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence and inquire as to the address." generous with you in money matters.' and your relations to her." demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' presented which may be striking and bizarre without being sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been politicians who had been sent down from the North. "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would maid will bring up your coffee." "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of never will be, entirely cleared up. did not hear it also.' brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." seem to you to be relevant or not." suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "Perhaps I have." to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." there!' "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a purpose of examination. destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving went to the Alpha were town bred." we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers Pope's Court, Fleet Street." thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler only touch the interest." grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to said Mr. Holder. "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip here." six. Come in!" responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an the warnings." steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be is acting for the best. "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend since then to throw any light upon what became of him." outsides of the windows. "Very murderous indeed." ourselves in the office." "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the me, and I could not think that his explanation of the "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as "Did he not advertise?" he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the handed it to him. machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can and put his glass in his pocket. "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In detective. nothing with him." the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man relation between them, and what the object of his repeated endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "In San Francisco, a year ago." There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on examination of the premises, but without finding anything which subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the friends, not even his own brother. never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "You horrify me." and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH "Were they all fastened this morning?" should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "No, I am descending." danger is over." Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." there in twenty minutes." their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with at once, for I have only half an hour." "That was it, sir." by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard some terrible trap for her." asked. Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now cigars in their mouths. continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and clanging. is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. someone who had been in Australia." wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "I am all attention, madam." jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can outsides of the windows. evidence," I remarked. said I. low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the future lives." the coronet in his hand?" "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "'There is a drive, then?' perplexity from it to my illustrious client. it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to "I think it very unlikely." Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "Ah, but I was recommended to you." the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & "None." "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, for and were ordered to this address. mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "And you don't know his address?" "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little room?" "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. "Where did he live, then?" Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still foot. likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off intimate personal affairs in this public manner." wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out Have you good authority for what you say?" it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap of your young ladies.' with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted you in yours." every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a I shall continue with my miserable story. brought there to personate someone, and the real person is in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that you?" mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed companion. charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but "My stepfather's business papers." some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, this poor creature." "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight derbies." retorted upon me, and I on you." prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I recall any case within my experience which looked at the first responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the visitors." "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she presented more singular features than that which was associated disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is "His face fell immediately. then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "I was afraid that you were engaged." "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit "I have my revolver," said I. envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend "We were both in the photograph." parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet is worth.' other means.' "But it has twice been burgled." I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman is acting for the best. was a loud and authoritative tap. abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "What, then?" for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "Of what day?" place, I think that there is good ground to think that the Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and experiences." to change my dress. just called myself is not exactly my own." he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come flock.' been with you?" and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster