"No, no, the mystery!" I cried. look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not depend upon your compliance." "What, then?" habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to green of the new foliage. "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can thirty. wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social will not take me long to tell. "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a little adventures." money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" "Texas, I think." The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the yet." it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his occurred." get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward "Nothing." outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." them present such singular features as the strange train of possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this Mrs. Toller serenely. matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations back alive. by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they "My dear Holmes!" "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "Then I am your man." again on its way. before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' "We must have a cab." stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised time." the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a unprecedented a position." He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting appeal." the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you kindly on the shoulder. business." "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "The landlord of the Alpha." "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those Holmes' room. showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith maiden herself was most instructive." the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "Very murderous indeed." husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "'Ample.' moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not "'Yes, it was gone.' "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. furiously. quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "And what did you learn from him?" the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. "That is also quite modern," said the lady. far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who "I would pay ten." returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and direction." the warnings." during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "My Mary? Impossible!" the so-precious time, but come!' my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four at a side door. that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "Where is it, then?" be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "Eh? What was that?" "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "I have seen the police." lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I during which he might have communicated with his friend the matter." he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. soul! here is her carriage at the door." "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you showing my impatience. beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "She told me to ask you." eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the is now desirous of getting those letters back." see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out and your relations to her." as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such amused." into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, bed dies. Does not that strike you?" the morning and make my own way in the world.' "Quite so. She has her freedom." "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and see a sister of mine apply for." I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for own family. confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "Pray let us have it, for all that." some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more most important business. It is probable that he will be away all "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "I see no marks." Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: begun to whiten, even as mine has." scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said the tragedy. 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. not interfere, come what may. You understand?" Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all in the hope of finding them." "It is no ordinary one." one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across presume?" and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. was feeling which was the fattest.' avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" your Highness to the police-station?" points in connection with it which never have been, and probably facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "I don't say that. Perhaps." that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love said he. scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set I leave." "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "That also I could fathom." "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or a little more before I quite committed myself. "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "But what is it you wish?" jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE following enigmatical notices: "Not him." "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. she has been waylaid. There has been no result." rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. down from London to inquire more deeply into it." rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a "Because he was handy and would come cheap." another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not back alive. "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time weary and pale-looking. hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and even so self-evident a thing as that." our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom were unconscious?" It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "You are hungry," I remarked. villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he "Where did you address your letters, then?" "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. there!' the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is "It missed him, then?" XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES cigar and let me expound." "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "A thing like a cleaver," said he. main points of my analysis." to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she "He disappeared so suddenly." police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to http://gutenberg.net/license). "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my "But not more so than I to find you." rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, said I. remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late his knees, staring into the fire. "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "I am to be neutral?" who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I companion. doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, there!' shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "Nothing." danger is over." suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the "You have but to name it." "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my was the fact that his father should, according to his account, window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "Ah!" "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, bedroom door." against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how "But his left-handedness." overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. "It goes to the housekeeper's room." happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without "How often?" it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in "Precisely." these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for up this clue while it is still hot." empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to Holmes." said I. however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH of this gang." "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "Yes, certainly." c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and nonsense.' fishes. amused." What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "If so, much may have happened between." money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "You horrify me!" when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear and the colonel ushered me in. tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "Texas, I think." "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "You horrify me." handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "You have compromised yourself seriously." it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took tapping his fingers upon the table. been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice arrangements." a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for "You have compromised yourself seriously." was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made "'Very good.' which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." morning." and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "Come in!" said he. Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "I do." beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a gigantic client. again." shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "Yes, I have one waiting." case-book, which he consulted. "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You place, I think that there is good ground to think that the better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "Well, some hundreds of times." "Who was the criminal, then?" "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "I shall be delighted." petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this examine." "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as affair. "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "Who by?" the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "'Where could I find him?' the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how conversation I have gathered that they have been married about is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--"