the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "About a month then." in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for the very letters. But what is this written above them?' 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my was lame." were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "Where, then?" "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" "And your father? Did you tell him?" "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" purpose of examination. an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. call the police, let the police find what they can.' "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, "So it appears." other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the go back?" "Come in!" said Holmes. keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. himself to hunt down. inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his coroner's jury." left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the populous neighbourhood." through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and speckled band?" that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the heavily into it. in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young his knees, staring into the fire. "Yes, but only for you and me." 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the neither fascinating nor artistic." drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the "'About the same.' quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young "You will not go there first?" "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "I am about to be married." "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from bird I ate is country bred." whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with "I have my revolver," said I. inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His "My dear Holmes!" one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. nonsense.' "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. served to weaken the effect. vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to that I can to serve you." Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first passage and a tap at the door. the coronet in his hand?" back alive. not within a twentieth part of the market price." advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, "But how did you gain them?" tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "Quite so." neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: "'In my own bureau.' something of him before." "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and mystery!" "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "Oh, fresh and glossy." reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what chemical work which was so dear to him. expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were ways of our fellow-men." as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal burst into a hearty fit of laughter. conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a there!' ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they in the port of London." position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. that I can to serve you." "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to "It is no ordinary one." beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, that you can jump it.' "Ample." Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my that?' "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "So I heard. You have him here?" glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon tail." access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of information in his hands the value of which he did not himself has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally "'I shall certainly be there.' Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, Doctor, of the paper and the date." and put his glass in his pocket. pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his extraordinary contortions. "You are hungry," I remarked. common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "I have hopes." believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both woven round him. silent! Oh, he will be silent!' man. narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: been." "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two "9th. McCauley cleared. peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp thirty. stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And forecastle of an emigrant ship. my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "Quite so." he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. in him." and all of them with the keenest interest. "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey back to my heart. 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. swore that no one else had been in the front room during the dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant upon the shelf for the interim." "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "Ah, but I was recommended to you." this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is place, I think that there is good ground to think that the "Then, as to money?" "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in your billet.' wedding?" his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his cigars in the box." "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "I am sure." an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the shaken than I had ever seen him. man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she one's self under obligations.' it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at washing it down with a long draught of water. sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "It is very kind of you." "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." Stoke Moran." comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we the house with me." wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, come either from the window or the door. My attention was Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "BALLARAT." "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet Countess of Morcar's?" http://www.gutenberg.net the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses respectable self." deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "Yes." when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. out of this horrible affair." didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your if I call to-morrow?" "Yes, sir." remarked. other lovers by making love himself." not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which relief. respectable self." "'About the same.' fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "Not in a good cause." "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a test if we have an answer to our advertisement." house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "My last client of the sort was a king." servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though instituted." society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with what these perils are?" brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER "One?" that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," For additional contact information: said he. unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "Was he the only applicant?" swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found use an arc-and-compass breastpin." open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before orange pips. "I answered that I had not. cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood chair. knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the ventilator." bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right to a light-house. "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "How many? I don't know." I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg have an American origin." "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a within hail.' Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in Eyford at 11:15.' The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up my former friend and companion. power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. exactly what you advise." "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with I shall communicate with you." you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress problems help me to do so." "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the himself. above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such fluttered off among the others. time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the several quiet little villages up there." stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, Holmes." gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "'You doubt its value?' he asked. had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the stalked out of the room. fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "'You cannot say what it was?' to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. against a man in the prime of life?" ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built photograph a cabinet?" the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has mysterious end." "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that relation between them, and what the object of his repeated States. hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic sit on the left-hand side of the driver." for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." "When did it break out?" "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "Yes, at the mines." Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying my little problems." once more to my work. front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the and a shock of very red hair. matter." be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, maid will bring up your coffee." upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "Then what has happened to him?" "I am in hopes that she does." here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's down. "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "You forget that I know nothing about it." "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, matter." found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from "Was the window open?" wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue to have been novel and of interest." "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to "He said too much." pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble drove away. locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off