"Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which "That you are never beaten." side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, "'What, the red-headed man?' saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." fire. You quite follow me?" this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most "Upon what point?" All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with opened a pocket-book and took out a note. the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very Doctor, of the paper and the date." "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my time." the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I out of this horrible affair." be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have Serpentine Avenue. Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner photograph?" It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week read it out to me." was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden in my life." daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he to change my dress. colonel looking down at me. "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both of the one which your family is now devouring." protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously Arthur Conan Doyle than to us. metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" certainly do as you advise." I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you back alive. "It is to him that this trophy belongs." during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful away in different directions, and I went off to make my own with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." problems help me to do so." business." "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, envelope. "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." so.' "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood that he will be back before evening." with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he observed. "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "What then?" see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much conclusions. vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair beyond words. ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY corner of the building. shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old meanly of me." that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is said I. "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." "But your client--" police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell than was visible to me." believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove be best to do. remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself "Where to?" bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and problems help me to do so." joking. cause to be." quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. from you?" very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always again before evening." facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret your co-operation." "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of second window is the one that I jumped from." the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from ventilator." at home. fattened it expressly for you.' with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow persecution?" The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, wedding?" think that any burglar could have done. arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so to miss it." familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. during that time.' The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely that you saw all that I did." "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "'What do you call purely nominal?' could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, sneer upon his pale face. "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." help us in this matter." any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were is now desirous of getting those letters back." Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange writer." "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "My last client of the sort was a king." bill, which interests me deeply." Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am "I never have." "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes the inquest, and which are worth considering." 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming to-night's adventure." immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can "What, then?" "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very "On the contrary, this is the right side." "And that is--" detained." TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he your troubles." know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from man. I know him from the photograph." "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "Look there!" said he. skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By the Red-headed League." scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock "Have you her photograph?" "Where, then, is my wife?" him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, felt the room to be a little close.' "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my keep the flames under. active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "How often?" prison!" money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had with you?" was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram "No, I had a dozen." brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "'There is a drive, then?' "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "'You doubt its value?' he asked. without success. At last the little money which I had saved began for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is and all of them with the keenest interest. I have it here in my museum." thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey stepfather?" hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door not interfere, come what may. You understand?" transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of "Two days later this same performance was gone through under It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But "I assure you that I am in your hands." "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to writer." the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his down from London to inquire more deeply into it." in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband fuss that is made over them." that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as children over to America with him, so that I found myself without heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in quite distinctive." PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you future lives." another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits "You horrify me!" "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he burst into a hearty fit of laughter. another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was you want, then?' have I gained?" My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a for securing the situation." "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She one of the states of the Union." "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, note?" seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "Not particularly." paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, have an American origin." would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of within hail.' interest. They are important, you understand, without being "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the stepfather?" always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds paper in the air. prove to be little relation between the different incidents of "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' bare slabs of marble. 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his "But we can't all be." Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case words came to my lips. coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he future lives." pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so which we had just quitted. It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "Dirty?" I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter the tragedy. "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "And what then?" specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a sentimental considerations in the background which would induce miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "Yes?" poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man residence of the great financier. "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. "This concluded the examination of the witness." against a man in the prime of life?" said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a he. "Get out!" said he. "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; works. "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, a room. "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. secret." seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call "You'll never persuade me to believe that." it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "Where did you address your letters, then?" "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That sooner or later she must fall a victim. Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of a room. chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "Certainly." St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It "No. His orders were to stay in the house." unkempt, staring out at me. Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not shall use the carriage to-night." outside. Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. relief. "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good congenial hunt. not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester tell me that you intended to go into harness." figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My new duties?' overpowering excitement and concern. Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the ways of our fellow-men." "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their