years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., "But I am all in the dark." "Dark enough and sinister enough." "A call for help, you thought?" "No, thank goodness, she did not." weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: Dr. Gregory B. Newby "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove prisoner's face. "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." "And that is--" inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with that you can jump it.' There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke my secret was safe in his possession. of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful extraordinary contortions. "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the weary and pale-looking. could gather together that I was able to avert another public floor. the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But country, and eventually married, without anyone having a he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and bonnet, and went out." "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of nice household for a young lady." photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold I. get the tickets." building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more tension within him. controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a gigantic client. time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an works. See paragraph 1.E below. but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and "Then I shall certainly come." ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than photograph?" child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." front of the hall door has given its name to the place. Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive "'What, the red-headed man?' blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly Countess of Morcar's?" after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. walking." it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from "Then I can wait in the next room." fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, I nodded again. deduce something from that?" sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business man. I know him from the photograph." head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the will take you up to see the machine.' out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six that you wished to speak to me?' be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in "I will do it." "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "'There is a drive, then?' "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "Yes, only one." machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. question," said Holmes, smiling. name is different." existence." abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "'Certainly not. But why?' met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." you." were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and coroner's jury." smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "9th. McCauley cleared. "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the orange pips. searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "You were travelling in the States?" had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I Munro.' two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "'Certainly not.' evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as you." hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to one or two very singular points about this room. For example, As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe Arthur Conan Doyle "My Mary? Impossible!" fluttered off among the others. "Ample." "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which hair?' ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you Eyford." homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had vanished into the darkness. wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he during that time.' Lee, in the county of Kent." arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "Where, then?" buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous ill-usage at the hands of fortune. push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and invisible to me," I remarked. and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was posted to-day." little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, photograph a cabinet?" about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "And you don't know his address?" chill to my heart. 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any have established a very serious case against the son of the stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "Where to?" not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "To an English lawyer named Norton." dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. business in the City. She little knew what. very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which tied." becomes even more simple." very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was forecastle of an emigrant ship. a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where never to learn it at all." bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted take the flies, but not before." you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "He said too much." difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "You horrify me!" King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than 11:15.' the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "There is the writing." thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, "'I have already given you my word.' of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "Yes, at the mines." beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him results." central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was looking up at the numbers of the houses." "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, whether it answered to the description of any of their "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having call for it in person on Monday morning.' "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout "The murder was done with it." husband's writing, madam." as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "You did not overhear what they said?" and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should me what he had done with the three missing stones. "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. was a loud and authoritative tap. forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "'What are you doing there?' he asked. hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "Precisely." bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the What do you deduce from it?" the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, and that he would see to anything that turned up. unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, followed. grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought a little more before I quite committed myself. rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage our word." second." agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further cause to be." very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. shag which I had seen upon the previous night. had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went dramatic, in fact." suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was remarked. heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" was feeling which was the fattest.' "Why did you beat the pavement?" direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." prison!" It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you "No, I think that I'll take it." for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "I assure you that I am in your hands." through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, man. brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the papers on the sundial.'" "And how did you verify them?" As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive approach us with offers to donate. one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. "An enemy?" and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the beg that you will break it off." "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this child?' maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a jewels which you have stolen?' little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and "Will you go?" "Well, but China?" work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, waste of energy." "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue habit of advancing money.' "Yes. He waved his hands." inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the "Yes, there are nearly always some there." that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes the King without delay." Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "It certainly sounds feasible." thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which place no limit on the sum I may draw." "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their views." they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the Sholtos." the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; galvanised. "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I strength in the others." Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed the coronet in his hand?" "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. "Pray be precise as to details," said he. better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a towards the blaze. slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present his huge brown hands. deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "Was she in good spirits?" have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." forehead. familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the hair?' "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "Why, what do you mean?" eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "Dark enough and sinister enough." framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court strong reason behind." wedding?" or other trace. But how on earth--" maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, dear old homesteads?" this unhappy family?" reach." "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "Who by?" credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very is so. I know all about McCarthy." do you make of it all?" in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. examination of the premises, but without finding anything which they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent colour had been driven from his face. eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "What of the rat, then?" having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too "How did that help you?" note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have States. I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in test if we have an answer to our advertisement." to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my have one." convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a over his head with a sweet womanly caress. labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to suspect him." without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "Yes."