a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." not personally threatened." his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, tail." "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "Not in a good cause." I nodded to show that I had heard. the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could had formerly been in part my own. heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "Can I be of assistance?" street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a in my life." fled together." "Pray continue your narrative." trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow "Yes, the wine-cellar." "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a triumphant cloud from his cigarette. error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story a room. "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found advice." been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE there were one or two details which were new to me. But the can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "But she will refuse." child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most subject to the trademark license, especially commercial Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "But how could you guess what the motive was?" brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "He disappeared so suddenly." question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had "Never." gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She weary and pale-looking. his face which made him a very different person to the round, out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely own family. three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped chambers. the very letters. But what is this written above them?' up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he the King without delay." system of imprisonment?" dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey papers." the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is there was no need for father to know." breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened questioning and rather startled gaze. possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been His smile broadened. evidence," I remarked. town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the made his money." "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I noting anything else of interest. "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more his grey eyes. "Perhaps we may make them less so." received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his derbies." ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by when you have done it." neither fascinating nor artistic." derbies." PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of opened a pocket-book and took out a note. at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE plantation.' once more. "Very well, sir. And this stone?" eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard interest. They are important, you understand, without being address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt to-night?' your sleep?' the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which approach us with offers to donate. "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I her also." interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "Ah!" blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "And you don't know his address?" "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, said I. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to me. compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and where she found matters as described by the last witness. corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "Yes." who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "'What are you doing there?' he asked. bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project the salesman. do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the hour?' the south-west, I see." had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. points to suicide?" air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "His face fell immediately. it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have sound at heart." "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you some water from a caraffe. room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of away in different directions, and I went off to make my own very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "Certainly." the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "Then you may be so with me." "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was "I guessed as much." "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then used to be." Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the face and glided from the room. with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to the dangers which encompass me." sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "'Stolen!' he cried. dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." intrusion of other matters." visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in sofa. This way, please!" gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. His name is Francis Prosper." incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, you." may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "No." "My last client of the sort was a king." Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his "Deserted you?" the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back better in every way that they should make their position a little "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "Will you go?" "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "No legal papers or certificates?" newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of occurred." Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, disturbance in my wife." "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced "It surprised me." works. Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that ago." go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An this Miss Turner." returning from some small jollification and was making his way said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my coat-tails." a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one "Stolen, then." But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my in one or two places in England?' will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project to surprise her." signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "Then, as to money?" will not take me long to tell. some place of shelter and let the county police know what has son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" open." could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get you in your example." investigation." concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his was a perfect sample of the class. been lifted and conveyed somewhere." figure." "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. lost his Christmas dinner." the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built think that any burglar could have done. "Certainly." inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable lips." brought there to personate someone, and the real person is shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who "Did your wife hear all this?" feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down may never be exposed to such a temptation." "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "Stolen, then." in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said think you a quite exceptional woman." "My private note-paper." But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and it." introspective fashion. "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "It is very clear." "The gentleman I describe." "'Ample.' "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he tell them apart.' to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "Ten will be early enough." "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said the coronet in his hands?" some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new read it out to me." in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a room had already been engaged for us. months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "We must have a cab." distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. in. my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. crime. a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "'How far from the body?' part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, you." We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "It came here." why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." the house with me." understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady the driver. without a word or a look. "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as figure." Clair, of Lee." however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it any more." there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, cigar and let me expound." forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman