"We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting "'There is a drive, then?' Stoke Moran." "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a been shamefully used." there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make conduct the inquiry." "And leave your case unfinished?" been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "What is it?" over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must sneer upon his pale face. "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, think that he is innocent?" the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you passage and a tap at the door. taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "There is the writing." premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel drove away. more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "Not particularly." into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for pressing in one house as in another. happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, "Stolen, then." A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," returned to France?" never to learn it at all." the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "I would give my fortune to have them back." "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found "That was it, sir." "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am be.' the little opening for the ventilator is." maiden herself was most instructive." "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the shaken than I had ever seen him. there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. said I. pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "In answer to an advertisement." dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it I approached. "And why?" preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me his face. the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of 1.F. enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is the bottom.' "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "'Which dealer's?' upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I which was all perfectly true. hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that becomes even more simple." considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying a few minutes he said that it would be all right. used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that breakfast?" aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet eavesdroppers?' I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "BALLARAT." once more to my work. Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a exactly what you advise." guilty parties." "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his figure." planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," giving me time to thank him. age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very matters immensely." himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had "You are certainly joking, Holmes." Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "Not in a good cause." reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of geese which you supplied to the Alpha." after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, should be so warm over such a trifle." this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport "What have you to say now?" the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss "By no means." there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only fish-monger and a tide-waiter." remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, any." Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" in his power. "This photograph!" "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight "Where, then, is my wife?" How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "But you were on a friendly footing?" "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. directly by questioning you." received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with the inquest, and which are worth considering." those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once you want, then?' should be taken.' understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. gives a meaning to it." array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell IS "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "And sit in the dark?" the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of redistribution. We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out even so self-evident a thing as that." never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the "I will, Miss Turner." way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. From what you have told me I think that it is possible that garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those sparkled upon his finger. "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the what is your own theory as to what took place?" "It is possible." Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare where we are going." fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always as this. Pray let me have the details." wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one "I fear not." came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in said Mr. Holder. "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "He slept on the premises." money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. question. details." "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But "But how did you gain them?" has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second you." did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "Yes." There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was all?" "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and held up the lantern and gazed about him. "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to mystery may be cleared along those lines." of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell away into the river." had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, populous neighbourhood." "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. simple cases which are so extremely difficult." "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported undoubtedly my uncle's." even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was hurried by. "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing grasp, he hurried from the room. - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the was used.' gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly a few minutes he said that it would be all right. noting anything else of interest. with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "That is it on the dressing-table." information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official Eyford at 11:15.' should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if bill, which interests me deeply." "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked round with crates and massive boxes. known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just "Yes, from Horsham." "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who the bottom.' may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately "Yes, sir." same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "Precisely so. But how--" would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and certainly not very gracious." "But I am all in the dark." forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. prepare for the new role I have to play." chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "None." he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he your billet.' "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which in the hope of finding them." solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign experiences." without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any "It is very kind of you." "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary experiences." "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my "But we can't all be." "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on not fit the lock." Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never call it cruel." "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "No legal papers or certificates?" "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an and put his glass in his pocket. when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "I am to be neutral?" The police have openly confessed that they can at present make test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet his knees, staring into the fire. formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea thirty. shall not find me ungrateful." sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which have not had my rubber." mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious pity, because in other respects you would really have done very would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my "Thank you. And your address?" judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "Not I." Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock distance from the station, and there we found the young lady "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "So I have heard." blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat gentleman's clothes. and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with do.' suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there to tackle the facts." rooms." read it out to me." already referred to. "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "His face fell immediately. "That sounds a little paradoxical." the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the burst into a hearty fit of laughter. wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on gigantic client. "I fear not." it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who gone. test if we have an answer to our advertisement." flock.' passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the strode off upon his way. however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "How about poison?" "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. "We were both in the photograph." and put his glass in his pocket. help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a