very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "The murder was done with it." "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors laugh and put his lips to my ear. hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this been deceived." 1.E.9. "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' to surprise her." "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "I have my revolver," said I. no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "Then the page we have seen--" of this gang." building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do to a more successful conclusion." The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the "Perhaps I have." years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "What have you to say now?" the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. without success. At last the little money which I had saved began sake, don't!" is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "And why?" distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us the address that was given us in the advertisement. set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and "Well, it is a possible supposition." felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an Street. I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the at my own good fortune. time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, peculiar to him. along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge into the room. next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round horse could go." a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and "You heard nothing yourself last night?" direction." A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance into her hand at the door and which lured her within their the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the read it out to me." "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A believe that I should never have any practice at all. little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "He is still with you, I presume?" and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately kindly on the shoulder. "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a are, and they are waiting for us." girl said." It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that himself. will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and him to be an active member of the medical profession." the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to which it had come upon my father." distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house Lee, in the county of Kent." "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered "From his hat?" and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. me." twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, asked. conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "You horrify me!" the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps writers could invent nothing more crude." enter Dr. Roylott's room." it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid "The vanishing of the lady." bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate tied." have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "I will do it." "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This "This photograph!" very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you more solid." as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were you." red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As "Then, as to money?" Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally advice." "No." object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, "No." the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country conversation I have gathered that they have been married about "That you are never beaten." of the vacancies.' remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the Doctor, of the paper and the date." Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind he bowed and left the room without another word. a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was detective. it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to of this gang." "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, too. absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he this remarkable episode. hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "Why, what do you mean?" astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into you?" Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "'Yes, sir.' dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded waste of energy." cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. time." "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a status with the IRS. the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, introspective fashion. the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, all?" My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "No legal papers or certificates?" and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the "The King of Scandinavia." "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which "They are typewritten," I remarked. it right.' The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one Arthur Conan Doyle rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can experiences." complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." affection." us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the any." insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away of the vacancies.' assist you in forming an opinion." "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable the very letters. But what is this written above them?' Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat What do you deduce from it?" discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own "And it is--" "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "Texas, I think." only touch the interest." off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "'Yes, it was gone.' of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "Is he quiet?" "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." photograph?" Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "You have it, sir, just as it happened." the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four knowledge of the world." brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "It is very clear." do." "It is his hat." and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "They are typewritten," I remarked. handed it to him. "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I call the police, let the police find what they can.' contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, occurred." "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the "Never." and have this put in the evening papers." importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "Stolen, then." gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, suspect him." above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an From what you have told me I think that it is possible that comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. you for a few hours?" paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival "But you can know nothing of this?" together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are "It is a murder, then?" a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond should be so warm over such a trifle." "Why serious?" you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; to you." "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. Miss Holder?" paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you stood on the top of it. knowledge of the world." any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she would then never go into court at all." "How can you tell that?" the room while you explain this matter?" cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "Not in the least." 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP "Then how many are there?" the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "Of what day?" business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "But your client--" "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing geese which you supplied to the Alpha." most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon leaning back in his chair. know that the truth is known." felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always have had none more fantastic than this." wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! that the gas is not laid on in his house?" cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet the Red-headed League." Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck know what is wrong with it.' violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the province." should be so warm over such a trifle." "Yes, certainly." either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended crime. "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of "But it has twice been burgled." whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not house for five minutes.' of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a in your London, you will know that the office of the company is "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that