"It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would "A client, then?" Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the "Pray continue your narrative." an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' place of silver." never will be, entirely cleared up. have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." lamp. you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what "I cannot as yet see any connection." turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "Nothing?" mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered not personally threatened." thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case late!' "Yes. He waved his hands." to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us key of the affair now." you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to legal crime." "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My woman who has had her own way to make in the world. drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and into the room. by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a outside." "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At conceal it?" "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "I never have." "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I followed. silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "Oh, the cause is excellent!" to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort "Is he quiet?" since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the now. It seems that there had been some informality about their or other trace. But how on earth--" settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull suddenly upon us." end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which evidence," I remarked. me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right "So it appears." which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to see me here to avoid scandal." villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "I think that I had better go, Holmes." some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an along the entire front of the house, with three long windows direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, lectures into a series of tales." course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his your own bird, so if you wish--" first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water leaning back in his chair. hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "To an end?" the coronet in his hand?" felt the room to be a little close.' inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy brandy and water within his reach. cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would But Holmes shook his head gravely. permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, present strange and interesting features that it is no easy ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See a monotonous occupation." Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as looking up at the numbers of the houses." light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, if I call to-morrow?" acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "It is very clear." suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that taking in every detail of the apartment. "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair impression behind it as though a window had gently closed and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an "Will you bet, then?" It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this "You have it, sir, just as it happened." anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her see me here to avoid scandal." and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for bedroom door." "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the distance from the station, and there we found the young lady "Did you observe the colour?" the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, what do you think they found in the pockets?" his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The Lee, in the county of Kent." before the coroner and the police-court." searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. there was no need for father to know." opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "'Certainly not. But why?' making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man your room." waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste "Yes, at the mines." departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in Project Gutenberg-tm works. "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the him. bird I ate is country bred." silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull that he will be back before evening." "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding ill-usage at the hands of fortune. difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee "You will not go there first?" he died? "And why?" incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, "If so, much may have happened between." investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, to affect your life." pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason one's self under obligations.' bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be meanly of me." found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A II. shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project minor matters until to-morrow." "'What would be the hours?' I asked. heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a following enigmatical notices: is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some the roots. "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "Not him." homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. discontent upon his features. such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "You know me, then?" rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" note?" imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "'Ample.' of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. enter into my head. upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from deduce something from that?" "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" do." through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock "When did she vanish, then?" Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the a suggestive one." it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the McCarthy's innocence. laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" begun to whiten, even as mine has." very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, never came back." foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "That you are never beaten." keep the flames under. across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered colour had been driven from his face. seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. it." you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down "It is solved." were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother wife's character?" surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every hour?' home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near voice, changing her seat as requested. The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His "And it is--" a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little not come at once?" "It is a murder, then?" He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' "I see many objections to any such theory." caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." lamp in his hand. reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun me where it went to?" daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she "None. Neville wrote those words." landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now society." to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for Project Gutenberg-tm works. 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." call you and give you the chance." typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his her also." I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped that he has suffered." back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "No." shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed is so. I know all about McCarthy." absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was formed some opinion?" the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned outbreak?" has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now "'And the work?' didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just bird I ate is country bred." "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "Precisely." leaning back in his chair. the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who my special province." "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "I saw her in conversation with her maid." sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." his wife has ceased to love him." stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." of your young ladies.' she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable key turn in the lock." careless servant girl?" in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "But I am all in the dark." fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid never to learn it at all." clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "You will not go there first?" find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this the stones. down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than ill-usage at the hands of fortune. been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards him to be an active member of the medical profession." to tell." that I may have something better before very many minutes are secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small For additional contact information: imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster good for you to do.' the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion lumber-room." "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard meant." against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. cigars in their mouths. typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was James Windibank. Voilà tout!" delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door very morning of my second wedding." which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "From his hat?" the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "Then I am your man." Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't child?' "I cannot think." London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "'Where could I find him?' interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in his grey eyes. man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return some city in a dream. is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid