that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. suggested at once that there must be a communication between the round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's papers." once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's Chief Executive and Director "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage "Yes, certainly." "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "He is dead," cried several voices. "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I go from here to the Strand." office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a head. So long, then!" man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to "Look there!" said he. on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, the coroner come to?" was lame." and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled started for the Temple to see my husband. Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no "And for present expenses?" "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The girl said." to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his be.' and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? chemical work which was so dear to him. having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. salesman. I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "That's no good." Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "He said that you could solve anything." window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about you give your casting vote to?" "I am still in the dark." in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER upon the shelf for the interim." young Openshaw's." in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could Holmes' thin, eager face. "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me during which he might have communicated with his friend the dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The gives a meaning to it." "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I success. astonishment. my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of six. Come in!" "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I there." Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "His face fell immediately. "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." prisoner's face. manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the "An accident, I presume?" often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced furiously. your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to cup of tea. interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." asked with his eyes open. "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her away in different directions, and I went off to make my own happened." his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." before the coroner and the police-court." "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "But he might be a bachelor." "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide to that open window." even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our appeal." "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured golden eyeglasses. time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "Yes, from Horsham." an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the companion. claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of my room." "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is bird I ate is country bred." branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a she used." of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "'I have heard so.' man. "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill "At what time?" and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite in this note: my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying yourselves in at night?" doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee sneer upon his pale face. this truth that in these little records of our cases which you his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly "It was an hour's good drive." some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "And how have you succeeded?" straightened it out again. all?" old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door wedding?" said Mr. Holder. from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "'Certainly,' I answered. groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a the coroner come to?" lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." next day. "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "You are all wrong." nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in his wife has ceased to love him." glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son such attractions and accomplishments?' violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke interested in these little problems, and since you are good betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down this Miss Turner." as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' forbidden door. letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." is four-and-twenty." back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of "9th. McCauley cleared. observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he "Come in!" said Holmes. electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been will not take me long to tell. listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend as the one I chose?' "'Never.' has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the examine." "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, there is a decided draught." "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out people in all walks of life. think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and to-night's adventure." arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, "You have compromised yourself seriously." "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch on in his house." the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "Perhaps I have." my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear must compliment you." second." "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied and the whole place is in a blaze." from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has burst into a hearty fit of laughter. and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "And the murderer?" with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net "Tired-looking or fresh?" memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "But it has twice been burgled." even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat visitors." "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen look dissatisfied." office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the even so self-evident a thing as that." the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, less than 26s. 4d. Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." had formerly been in part my own. man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "Pray let us have it, for all that." a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "Oh, fresh and glossy." "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, "It is very kind of you." the Red-headed League." "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of on re-entering her father's house?" own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the ways including including checks, online payments and credit card creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered I approached. his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. hands. "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared discontent upon his features. Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never "Proceed, then." the Friday. Was it to be in church?" long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew careless servant girl?" habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical presented more singular features than that which was associated newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a one's self under obligations.' I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As at home. cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this mystery." "But how did you gain them?" deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a "Ha! you find it so?" American. Then who could this American be, and why should he remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses papers must be those that are destroyed.' "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four the bottom.' public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed "I see no marks." morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was dear old homesteads?" "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are speckled band?" "And help." the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the hurried away. even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of them present such singular features as the strange train of Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so the ceiling. rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" over his head with a sweet womanly caress. shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was indeed happy." already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to outside. take the flies, but not before." "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining daring than any effort of the imagination."