been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all have been better. It is all right." my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, so.' points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the events, Mr. Windibank!" would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop everything which you would wish to know." Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of a monotonous occupation." to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my which should have the effect of calling the attention of the appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope "'Most admirably.' my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. his eyes and forehead. maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "By no means." At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "He is dead," cried several voices. never came back." his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a goes." took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was mysterious end." the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact characteristics, but those are the more obvious." time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our joking. "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "Then you may be so with me." wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "It is possible." the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she to tell." temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of three fields round his house, and there he would take his "Nothing." following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "And now?" He raised his hand. and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself "But your client--" to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, "Precisely." arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in father's place of business?" "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and me where it went to?" "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "But you have hopes?" so far?" together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means used to be." leaning back in his chair. "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." the roots. glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps retorted upon me, and I on you." upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my placed his cuttings. a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I there has been an enclosure here!" when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by "Yes." sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass Surrey." called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away man. smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe his fortune, and I went back to pa. As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "No, my brougham is waiting." minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you "Then you may be so with me." "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell "But how could you guess what the motive was?" one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. leaning back in his chair. to a light-house. "Pray do so." said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "To the police?" imbecility!" he cried. "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "His face fell immediately. I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in not personally threatened." and all of them with the keenest interest. "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. everything which you would wish to know." matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but spare." the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted people in all walks of life. inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the been deceived." fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of to arrive at through this?" and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking than was visible to me." But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had voice, changing her seat as requested. with some details as to your case." down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "The knees of his trousers." "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." "My photograph." gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "And how did you find out?" seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the "And that is--" know all about it," he snarled. hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had absorbing." "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as "By no means." us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' late." desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by get her out of the way." "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your "That is possible." paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they what do you think they found in the pockets?" purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have the Friday. Was it to be in church?" should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote present." quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you standing smiling on the door-step. who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." exactly what you advise." as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered seven miles from Eyford Station.' be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the where we are going." a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name lids now and glanced across at his visitor. feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I "I will not look." deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a redistribution. corner of the building. very old mansion. "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "Texas, I think." never came back." this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and "Eh? What was that?" obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. where Mr. Fordham shows you.' more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "'Ample.' I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing questionable one." to surprise her." fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. "This concluded the examination of the witness." answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "But I am all in the dark." "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of there was no need for father to know." "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a "Where is it, then?" "It is to him that this trophy belongs." say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. outbreak?" Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which threw himself down with his face to the pillow. gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and south, for the country is more deserted there." isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of "She showed me, as I told you she would." I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "What can you not understand?" well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of bled considerably." "Not particularly." and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "You heard nothing yourself last night?" drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. system of imprisonment?" counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been would apply.' Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to she has been waylaid. There has been no result." over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me God! What an exposure! What can I do?" "I say that I have solved it." "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "What shall I do?" come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well answer." occupations.' posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." your only hope of safety." her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew possible that we could bring him back to her? was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE ventilator." all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "The King of Scandinavia." morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet subject to the trademark license, especially commercial allusion to a rat. of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and "'What would be the hours?' I asked. Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "Then what has happened to him?" heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case "What?" again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with into the room. very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "Very truly yours, inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His of receipt of the work. and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had overpowering excitement and concern. sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where pound a week." have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very characteristics, but those are the more obvious." neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous bled considerably." "On Monday." lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I whether it answered to the description of any of their entirely devoid of interest." have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. there is a decided draught." "But you were on a friendly footing?" reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest acquaintance?" he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "It was an hour's good drive." as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in there when the Rucastles went away." again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand attention." quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the very morning of my second wedding." "You were travelling in the States?" photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. been anything against him. He had for years been known as a "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his Street. "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and likely to be some crony of the landlady's." residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "He is dead," cried several voices. of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it