took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main not come at once?" of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I meant it for the best. sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on all that?" since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the noting anything else of interest. heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and this man was intellectual?" whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was outside." in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. papers diligently of late, have you not?" of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning empty. the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second "Yes." the devil!" 'please.'" "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. with her." "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE II. Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you indeed happy." "You have but to name it." beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "'No, I know no one in these parts.' recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt Literary Archive Foundation elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I lamp. "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent overpowering excitement and concern. reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting it." "Bought." got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through "Certainly." dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "I don't say that. Perhaps." story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was maid will bring up your coffee." She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider he. wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to status with the IRS. in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "In the cells." Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but you, my dear young lady?' fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as during that time.' south, for the country is more deserted there." connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in "Indeed! Whose, then?" into her hand at the door and which lured her within their The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the in my life." It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under him nearly every evening." room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope and glanced through. paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his public press." brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced horse could go." "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "'In my own bureau.' when your master had gone out." he bowed and left the room without another word. down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "'Stolen!' he cried. boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I in him." servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a humiliation." "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as examine." caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." you in your example." Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who "Come in!" said Holmes. chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east leaning back in his chair. Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more "You think so, too?" "Pray let us have it, for all that." along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the "How do you know, then?" "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." acquaintance?" "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." tail." Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of happened." the armchair which I pushed forward for him. Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, guilty one." absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than His smile broadened. another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to like gravel from a pit.' first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others dead, shall be safe with us." "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my father's young wife. with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "I will, Miss Turner." my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down asked. turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help know that the truth is known." an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air in one or two places in England?' photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER attention." from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the "And how did you verify them?" ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. "I was mad--insane." seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she other means.' hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." delighted to hear it," he said. in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in "Then what has happened to him?" pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? "You have it, sir, just as it happened." running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her some water from a caraffe. by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "Oh, the cause is excellent!" that threaten you." necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. chill to my heart. "But your client--" and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. to-morrow." "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always Eyford at 11:15.' "Thank you. Pray proceed." matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his indiscretion." absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a "Stolen, then." "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found acted in my house last night?" "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "In heaven's name, what for?" we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that empty. signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." sufficient punishment." other lovers by making love himself." and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, "No. What a strange idea!" a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private me where it went to?" abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the himself in a perplexing position. Project Gutenberg-tm works. dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, "You think that he is dead?" my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be "The Cedars?" from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that cause to be." strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us States. "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers Holmes' thin, eager face. the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which direction." blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though "Ah!" returned to France?" We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was may never be exposed to such a temptation." despaired of." that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to never came back." to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do in the port of London." admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect "Yes, it would be as well." red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular room. valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, and I shall be with you presently." The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "Where to?" Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." written. am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right in the port of London." or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, on re-entering her father's house?" was not a bird to be seen there. the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a of the efforts of the United States government and of the better I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And coat-tails." vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. that threaten you." terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and I nodded again. only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel flock.' lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "On the contrary, this is the right side." speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of are, I think, all that we need." residence of the great financier. said I. keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To "I beg pardon." business?" The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall you." I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I "Ah!" The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my "You heard nothing yourself last night?" may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can the nursery. hair?' "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "Where did he live, then?" thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his and the whole place is in a blaze." he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "I see many objections to any such theory." Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a "They are typewritten," I remarked. to you." back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I habit of advancing money.' distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet shoulder; "he's all right." question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. "'And the work?' "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a be there in time for your coming." leaning back in his chair. "To an end?" mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of rooms." copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said article?" of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric envelope. we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. "Precisely." enough to aid us in our search." whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he I think that I could be of assistance to you."