"Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees "What do you mean?" submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven interest. They are important, you understand, without being from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in "I will try. What is it?" and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing highroad, where all traces were lost. gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and information in his hands the value of which he did not himself Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes "It is very clear." "'And what salary do you ask?' "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "Your sister is dead, then?" she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "That is possible." in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a over part of the map. "What do you read?" "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "The landlord of the Alpha." tail." Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he points to suicide?" it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "Why serious?" read over the extraordinary announcement. but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "And you can do nothing until then?" two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a I think that I could be of assistance to you." do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "Dr. Becher's." whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and really the only notable feature about the thing." "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, arrested. You then--" Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, public press." "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" the night.' and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "Why did you pick him?" Count Von Kramm." shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and have established a very serious case against the son of the grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "I am to be neutral?" hair?' a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "I beg pardon." The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would "10th. John Swain cleared. It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the away to you." you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in should be taken.' India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." the south-west, I see." and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the was lame." most interesting one." even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, good-night and bustled off upon her way. "You have a clue?" the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "We must sit without light. He would see it through the it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "No." goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "But what is it you wish?" immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "That was it, sir." views." hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon and a shock of very red hair. the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman use an arc-and-compass breastpin." has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check was feeling which was the fattest.' grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far charge against him will break down." believe that I should never have any practice at all. heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "'Stolen!' he cried. bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the forecastle of an emigrant ship. "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the go back?" to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, examine." "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and "Then I do not see the point." of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up triumphant cloud from his cigarette. our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. your billet.' an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and noise which awoke you from your sleep?" Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "But you were on a friendly footing?" myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no "And the cigar-holder?" Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you are windows in it, of course?" "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended the coroner come to?" pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over you in your example." size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have touch that coronet?' end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "We were both in the photograph." she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. like that before?" would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he undoubtedly my uncle's." Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the the very morning of the wedding." fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "Yes, he did." "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the This is what he says: see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin was the fact that his father should, according to his account, meant it for the best. table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs tell me that you intended to go into harness." of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" should be so warm over such a trifle." dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name that you can jump it.' did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into friends, not even his own brother. low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that "About a month then." one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." "'Entirely.' "And the cigar-holder?" "Of what?" tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder stalked out of the room. And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time triumphant cloud from his cigarette. little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my might have a private word with us. some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying instituted." left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of "No." 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back get the tickets." not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he "Yes?" Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is least a most suspicious remark." old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and the south-west, I see." Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most business came to an end." "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to impression behind it as though a window had gently closed tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of brain must have something in it." in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we less than 26s. 4d. answered with a sidelong glance. horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than little adventures." memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "The decline of his fortunes, then?" the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "You did not overhear what they said?" feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, ill-usage at the hands of fortune. moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have of." possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "By all means." "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "Then you may entirely rely on me." There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "But we can't all be." the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during together. States. The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and once more on the important position which you have been fortunate while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, vague figure huddled up in the darkness. ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old hard-headed British jury." went to the Alpha were town bred." sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been sofa. This way, please!" woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated wife's character?" "But you were on a friendly footing?" the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you I think that I could be of assistance to you." hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he highly," said Holmes. furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall photograph a cabinet?" Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you when you have done it." is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to made him keep the appointment." photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email "Which surely he restored to their owner?" absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "I will not look." leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and and shall probably return to London by the evening train." "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "'Is purely nominal.' "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would knowledge of the world." "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal Lestrade of Scotland Yard." o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a there were one or two details which were new to me. But the shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "It is his hat." "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it "It is to him that this trophy belongs." Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found married her." "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking green of the new foliage. never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the guilty parties." erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "Quite so. She has her freedom." without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "Indeed! Whose, then?" "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "Then how many are there?" high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money cup of tea. "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has some water from a caraffe. the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by Street. Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now "I saw her in conversation with her maid." focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate happened." law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be would then never go into court at all." floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "And I to find an enemy." room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously "Not I." you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has "One?" the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she business." "Here?" pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who occupations.' "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of simple cases which are so extremely difficult." was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "What shall I do?" law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired papers must be those that are destroyed.'