condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the you." eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, key turn in the lock." round and wave him away like that.' doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom the coronet in his hands?" Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "And how in the world did you find them?" sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, matters immensely." the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and was keenly on my guard against him. misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up you." trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" in my life." "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. have been better. It is all right." "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me he. and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "We were both in the photograph." McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "Precisely." "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "That is it on the dressing-table." "What! a murderous attack?" gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he detective. been able to understand it, in a very few words. Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am "Why? What do you mean?" "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret "And your mother is alive?" narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father "Do you go out much in society?" province." Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small the best of training." also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into all that?" clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was business at Coburg Square is serious." in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." detained." charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, did not hear it also.' could go. very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would "And you don't know his address?" man. I know him from the photograph." go back?" "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence I held the little printed slip to the light. "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent again on its way. "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be ourselves in the office." Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter get the tickets." prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and "Then he might have called to you?" and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very there!' eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's beg that you will break it off." "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed as yours." note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a a room. Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "And when will you call?" out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I them present such singular features as the strange train of "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for strength in the others." way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "It is very kind of you." her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "And when will you call?" bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. me where it went to?" and that he would see to anything that turned up. singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing of note-paper. It read in this fashion: opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "Not in the least." fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation to a more successful conclusion." constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought from the brougham. hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "Yes." for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a Literary Archive Foundation enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her "If I can be of use." bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at the Assizes." "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and thin, with a long, sharp nose?" size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible made his money." were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my which our visitor detailed to us. Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of "Yes." secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear "Nothing." about. meanly of me." habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold made his money." throat." which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "Did your wife hear all this?" "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "And that is--" would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "Well?" "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most careless servant girl?" Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "Yes." rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet passage and a tap at the door. present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The arms and began to sob in a high treble key. came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot it." clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an "Her father is very rich?" to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still morning." myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads will he say when he returns?" "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this bachelor.' "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their the house with me." ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may lectures into a series of tales." accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long developed." sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar go back?" compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the when your master had gone out." Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at 11:15.' and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" other lovers by making love himself." which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would bonnet, and went out." very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an where we are going." strong and stiff." The summons was a brief and urgent one. to that open window." "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were letters?" Chief Executive and Director know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead stalked out of the room. not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. you found me to-night--and running through the front room she presented more singular features than that which was associated I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "Tired-looking or fresh?" "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "The King of Scandinavia." "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand mysterious end." done what I asked you, Jones?" "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know "But to whom?" recover the gem." "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "And I say east," said my patient. such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it copied or distributed: some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with paper in the air. "May I see it?" the coronet at all injured?" "It is no ordinary one." dear old homesteads?" my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "Yes." Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, only touch the interest." Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates "She showed me, as I told you she would." which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over exactly what you advise." attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had one of the states of the Union." searched, without anything being found which could incriminate little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." you for a few hours?" there was no need for father to know." takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the gentleman's clothes. "You have carte blanche." refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and time." corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "No more words. Get out!" For additional contact information: shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no not come at once?" however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE should be taken.' at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the was a perfect sample of the class. protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "Yes, all." or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite "And I to find an enemy." vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable purpose equally well?" he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed prepare for the new role I have to play." little adventures." "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of against a man in the prime of life?" sake, don't!" nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really allusion to a rat. nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "What!" he roared. applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." time." of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the the iron safe, which he closed upon it. bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, round and wave him away like that.' http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the and the church but not where the lady lived." handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. The police have openly confessed that they can at present make wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the in my life." "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with wife's character?" wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at "I cannot tell." went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "'I have already given you my word.' because she had spent so short a time in this country that she where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "We must sit without light. He would see it through the the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I were new raised from a basin. way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one their singular warning or token before them when starting upon think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" the nursery. "But how could you guess what the motive was?" daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, only touch the interest." to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, "I am following you closely," I answered. willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian speckled band?" pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. them?" "And why in hopes?" in the dead of the night?' "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many fishes. reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me "Because he was handy and would come cheap." chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he discontent upon his features. James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, electronic works "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want chance at all." my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in following enigmatical notices: "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her vanished into the darkness. relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of of your young ladies.' "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at Stoke Moran." "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be noble correspondent could be. gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. weighed down with some great anxiety. "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling