at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. his fortune, and I went back to pa. little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is October 9, 1890. right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards what do you think they found in the pockets?" as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre "What?" Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "Whose house is it?" afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no me upon any point which I do not make clear." believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours strong reason behind." "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I nothing of it?" problems help me to do so." always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two a monotonous occupation." "That is possible." not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense "Entirely." "You'll never persuade me to believe that." sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had "But his lameness?" discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." you give your casting vote to?" in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative to a more successful conclusion." of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you "In answer to an advertisement." would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in 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 "What will you say?" original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he it. written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss horse could go." in one or two places in England?' go--none." though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham depend upon my doing so.' one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his From what you have told me I think that it is possible that Eyford at 11:15.' leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with written, and locked the door of the office after me. sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many "This photograph!" man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a own family. - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his which we had just quitted. "'Then let me do so?' "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend fish-monger and a tide-waiter." centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "I will try. What is it?" "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes "ARAT," I read. matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to in your London, you will know that the office of the company is what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His should be so warm over such a trifle." "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by I approached. completely overtopped every other consideration that we both that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then as this. Pray let me have the details." "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "Upon what point?" "Certainly." self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for carriage. It was a chestnut." took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously cost them two and thirty pounds." helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be daring than any effort of the imagination." James Windibank. Voilà tout!" as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "Why? What do you mean?" say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until the coronet in his hand?" this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy meant." cheerful." the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and seen the man in the road." "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on presented more singular features than that which was associated have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his have accepted such a situation. look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that most interesting one." "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are out." business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was chemical work which was so dear to him. little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that copied or distributed: For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No mysterious end." "I would pay ten." secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, "Yes, I have one waiting." absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it strength." building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a his face which made him a very different person to the round, broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day tail." at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in hurried by. hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been is so. I know all about McCarthy." The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying been shamefully used." charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was if she died from some sudden fright." one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry main points of my analysis." former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the be.' "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only himself to tell his story. and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it round with crates and massive boxes. closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events orange pips. "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to it." own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is Lestrade of Scotland Yard." Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "I don't believe it." this man was intellectual?" the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and which should have the effect of calling the attention of the sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and the general public were present, then?" "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the pound a week." "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "'As governess?' "And the cigar-holder?" "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I "If I can be of use." is now desirous of getting those letters back." little adventures." correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of his face which made him a very different person to the round, like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words Gutenberg-tm License. sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is Countess of Morcar's?" bonnet, and went out." erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: weighed down with some great anxiety. sofa. This way, please!" "I beg pardon." "Witness: It was. France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate your only hope of safety." like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it "To an English lawyer named Norton." refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "Well, some hundreds of times." and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you some water from a caraffe. the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite My friend smiled. at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with charged with?" inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City woman." questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle husband's writing, madam." "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the whereabouts. to change my dress. was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "Ample." single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "Yes." the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these husband's writing, madam." what these perils are?" one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a "Upon what point?" the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is about. "What then?" father's young wife. river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, the warnings." sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" nonsense.' 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "In what way?" asked Holmes. "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a developed." received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We least a most suspicious remark." characteristics, but those are the more obvious." a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and of your young ladies.' Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, look upon these things in a different way." with frightened eyes at his accuser. "'Stolen!' he cried. "Was there a secret marriage?" a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman waste of energy." about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with the inquest, and which are worth considering." weigh very heavily upon my conscience." to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have away to you." "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late see a sister of mine apply for." some terrible trap for her." "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the astonishment. fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken redistribution. (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to there!' sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he and shall probably return to London by the evening train." "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving very morning of my second wedding." he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything could not account in any way for the presence of the missing Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in highroad, where all traces were lost. business came to an end." with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill pictures, libraries, or plate. it were putty." unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far salesman. As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as speckled band?" leave you to your papers for a little." expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and vanished into the darkness. pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel suddenly upon us." I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to "I never have." fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "What?" appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the "Here?"