black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the Leadenhall Street--and--" great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern "Yes." with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch and the colonel ushered me in. hard-headed British jury." "I don't believe it." reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "No." Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A quite distinctive." sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the hard-headed British jury." is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "And how did you find out?" make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot beg that you will break it off." of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "Did you observe the colour?" "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an "And your father? Did you tell him?" thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came good-night and bustled off upon her way. about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate him nearly every evening." standing smiling on the door-step. down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I acted in my house last night?" as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his wedding?" shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging have got?" "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east "To an English lawyer named Norton." "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, constraint." answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads "Where, indeed?" It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "I say it is." conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he was used.' dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "But your client--" likely to be some crony of the landlady's." my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "What will you do, then?" as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such considering the formidable letters which were received by himself "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "Was she in good spirits?" the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "That also I could fathom." country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing ill-usage at the hands of fortune. "Then, as to money?" will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a matter over." depend upon your compliance." "By no means." "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. never will be, entirely cleared up. was not a bird to be seen there. Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to "My dear Holmes!" "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out she used." side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "The vanishing of the lady." that Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and "Seven!" I answered. "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the "Yes?" the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your tell me that you intended to go into harness." south, for the country is more deserted there." unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between legal crime." "'A dozen yards or so.' "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "You know me, then?" "Bought." set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the round with crates and massive boxes. the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you such person." massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in been." furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. them?" "Very murderous indeed." my special province." THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "'I am sure that I do not know.' of the way of danger. stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the asked. existence." from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, the armchair which I pushed forward for him. with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." "On Monday." "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "Was the window open?" Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, "You think that he is dead?" very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat young Openshaw's." not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. speckled band?" a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's begun to whiten, even as mine has." as he remarks, very much against the son." "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. acquaintance?" wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a other, as fresh and trim as possible. ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that that the gas is not laid on in his house?" on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I cigars in their mouths. his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at that the gas is not laid on in his house?" coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "But she will refuse." attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her "Yes?" "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither three fields round his house, and there he would take his style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." existence." are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "Yes, but only for you and me." "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess Count Von Kramm." it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have politicians who had been sent down from the North. his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform any more." over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of Lee, in the county of Kent." to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of think that any burglar could have done. coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "Stoke Moran?" said he. week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we head. So long, then!" widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from true." "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the to you." consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. plantation.' and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was other means.' whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his passage and a tap at the door. Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, fear." bell. Holmes whistled. and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" ways including including checks, online payments and credit card these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' sparkled upon his finger. been lifted and conveyed somewhere." "What then?" the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was of the efforts of the United States government and of the better on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his morning." "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your "Was the window open?" you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. his grey eyes. such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something have been better. It is all right." standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was the so-precious time, but come!' before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "Why did you pick him?" "And what did you see?" again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. "BALLARAT." "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until stammered. God! What an exposure! What can I do?" the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same "It goes to the housekeeper's room." of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "Nothing." me upon any point which I do not make clear." people don't know." "I cannot tell." upon the sideboard." sake, don't!" desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece crime." the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." details." "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very fat-encircled eyes. 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." could gather together that I was able to avert another public weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical and the whole place is in a blaze." "How often?" written. claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced appointment with me for six o'clock?" THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and experiences." during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "'Certainly,' I answered. We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps mysterious end." should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for true." he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, "You saw the ventilator, too?" "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have in the dead of the night?' sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he questionable one." my special province." myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I "But what harm can there be in that?" in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a envelope. The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "This photograph!" "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "But of what society?" as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "'How far from the body?' have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "'Entirely.' and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two woman who has had her own way to make in the world. "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." friends, not even his own brother. "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, do." "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed