as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that nothing of it?" woman who has had her own way to make in the world. might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed key turn in the lock." what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled at my own good fortune. "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "It is possible." though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "No legal papers or certificates?" all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." "Bought." But Holmes shook his head gravely. your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." not come at once?" papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "Yes, sir." tightly behind him. unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently went to the Alpha were town bred." more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy envelope. unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he other lovers by making love himself." doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight threw himself down with his face to the pillow. dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and to a more successful conclusion." Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was nonsense.' fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working The events in question occurred in the early days of my 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But wedding?" would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my "I shall be delighted." "Very well, sir. And this stone?" power." awkward doing business with an alias." we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, power." I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional posted to-day." and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots examination of the premises, but without finding anything which even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced the date of his supposed suicide." open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a read over the extraordinary announcement. pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." tapping his fingers upon the table. from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "I guessed as much." where she found matters as described by the last witness. screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "But his left-handedness." It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward see a sister of mine apply for." I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "What do you make of that, Watson?" manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with respectable self." pressing in one house as in another. which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "Come in!" said he. so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "What, then, did Peterson do?" or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing charged with?" elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear From what you have told me I think that it is possible that into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "None." "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was orange pips. Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that crowd. Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination "Which surely he restored to their owner?" believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. tightly behind him. "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "There is the writing." "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for cup of tea. at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or giving me time to thank him. continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "But what harm can there be in that?" with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps the ceiling. no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they memory. trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" residence of the great financier. case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "And now?" I asked. a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, invisible to me," I remarked. nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his most interesting one." "My opinion is in no way altered." feature." to take care of herself." "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, colour had been driven from his face. necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "You are hungry," I remarked. "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon allusion to a rat. when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one power." "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some DAMAGE. and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from mystery may be cleared along those lines." naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most and put his glass in his pocket. to that open window." doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very photograph?" acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of dear old homesteads?" half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you undoubtedly my uncle's." reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were out." troubles have been weighing upon his mind. your Highness to the police-station?" was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely hand, madam?" "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of "You don't mind breaking the law?" "Here?" gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "'And the work?' eat it." outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing her also." in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to lost nothing by them." makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. visitors." heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in "'It is locked up,' I answered. fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she his forehead." little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would you." "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the should be so warm over such a trifle." music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself made him keep the appointment." copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "I am about to be married." poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a Stoke Moran." are, and they are waiting for us." whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, "Could he throw no light?" "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. had no one to advise her at such a crisis." spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "Do you go out much in society?" "Of Friday, June 19th." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle bell. Holmes whistled. "Nothing." left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I awaited us upon the table. "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique a very grave face. of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton business?" years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, "'Entirely.' "From his hat?" lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his so far?" "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "I will try. What is it?" paper in the air. carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but them present such singular features as the strange train of "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All ourselves in the office." said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I best detective that ever lived. the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." vault. "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever himself in a perplexing position. through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, "I say it is." about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, "How many? I don't know." facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. to affect your life." Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this followed. often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "But she will refuse." we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who himself to hunt down. The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is his cane at the bell-pull. "I have my revolver," said I. already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am again on its way. over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "Then I am your man." run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker danger is over." "'Yes, sir.' am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "You have a clue?" since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for hopeless attempt at recovering them." inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his IS story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was character. which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "Was your sister dressed?" forehead. "I will try. What is it?" all-comprehensive glances. corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he disappearance of these gems?" "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." in the dead of the night?' what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "It was." fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "Yes, I have one waiting." be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got me upon any point which I do not make clear." river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too empty. see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had main points of my analysis." knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. brandy and water within his reach. "Nothing." and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any Mrs. Toller serenely. "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "What! You do not mean bodies?" "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She the coronet at all injured?" about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the coat-tails." old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I From what you have told me I think that it is possible that order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous