interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose suspect him." my special province." the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone individual and becomes the badge of a society." repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the followed. "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who in the dead of the night?' sentimental considerations in the background which would induce the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill despaired of." and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. of note-paper. It read in this fashion: muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement respectable self." request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if Edgeware Road. The summons was a brief and urgent one. gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send and shall probably return to London by the evening train." handed it to him. me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it could not have written that. It is the German who is so The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood upon a handsome competence. "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must with the outside air!" "What is it?" "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be dates and names. "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge "So I am. Very much so." landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had which should have the effect of calling the attention of the "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was call you and give you the chance." the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to depend upon my doing so.' of." but preventing her from injuring another. Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "'Ample.' several quiet little villages up there." find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations with her." what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I Sutherland. separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, you for a few hours?" "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary of campaign. "Why, what do you mean?" It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid "10th. John Swain cleared. feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a the coronet in his hands?" quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a rose-bushes. appeared upon the scene." to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." gone before you can get him to hospital." make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to is four-and-twenty." week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a second." Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I "What!" he roared. sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that ready to-morrow?' Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "Stoke Moran?" said he. "Have you it here?" fasten all the windows?" and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and confronted him. "Just look it up, then." part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black are windows in it, of course?" (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project meant it for the best. ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing if she died from some sudden fright." "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another examination of the premises, but without finding anything which gone before you can get him to hospital." "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in down from London to inquire more deeply into it." residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the the one as in the other." "You are certainly joking, Holmes." friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our friend's singular character. first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have crime. Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." had died away into the silence from which it rose. long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly remarked. 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can better in every way that they should make their position a little past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "Certainly." old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "This concluded the examination of the witness." them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a in the dead of the night?' alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between held up the lantern and gazed about him. I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in name is different." passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with presume?" "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was "No, thank goodness, she did not." re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his "Where to?" "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "'And the work?' her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is giving me time to thank him. "Holmes, the busybody!" nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman were new raised from a basin. and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for been able to understand it, in a very few words. The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it round with crates and massive boxes. electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." key of the affair now." disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your be.' this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his and capable of preserving a secret.' going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "How did he come?" few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There what I may call a really hard day's work." "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, "Nearly eleven." owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "How can you tell that?" He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of to affect your life." introspective fashion. The police have openly confessed that they can at present make station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those so far?" fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "How did that help you?" suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical the address that was given us in the advertisement. "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out look upon these things in a different way." power." "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a where Mr. Fordham shows you.' right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. dramatic, in fact." that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep several quiet little villages up there." those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it on in his house." brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the Sholtos." hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She Holmes' face clouded over. over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "Then I do not see the point." when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it bears upon the case?" week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to in. "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my things are very often connected not with the larger but with the have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. shadow pass over his face as I spoke. the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired closely." brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see and your relations to her." Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "I don't say that. Perhaps." always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "Deserted you?" it. presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I companion imperturbably. plantation.' of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every fact, we may call it conclusive." "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' compunction about shooting them down." I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily skylight. drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of cigars in their mouths. a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular all?" Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed "You saw the ventilator, too?" generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad "Dr. Becher's." pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." "VIOLET HUNTER." of fine shops and stately business premises that they really he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads of the vacancies.' cup of tea. understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "That you are never beaten." "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "And help." our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "The knees of his trousers." "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after fishes. "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master During two years I have had three consultations and one small mystery!" About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "Then how many are there?" lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." himself. he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and his face. my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which even of instruction." indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, would then never go into court at all." Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between http://gutenberg.net/license). be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "That is possible." building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches woven round him. "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me to tell." fatally injured? my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe burst out into a roar of laughter. knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had a good hundred miles off by now." "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most which should have the effect of calling the attention of the possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send correct than the official force." of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she and the colonel ushered me in. "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been "'I am sure that I do not know.' could gather together that I was able to avert another public The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties spark where all is dark to me." follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself maiden herself was most instructive." a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to