upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. in the hope of finding them." Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "Married! When?" had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went vanished into the darkness. "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs have one." with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "But how did you gain them?" "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which status with the IRS. "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very searched, without anything being found which could incriminate There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "I have seen the police." inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless quickly through a disagreeable task. had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of she slowly sank and died without having recovered her that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted there was no need for father to know." arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle Chief Executive and Director Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, to-night?' call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single Arthur Conan Doyle deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we get her out of the way." some place of shelter and let the county police know what has The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "Precisely." ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. words came to my lips. breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by intrusion of other matters." without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right "It may not come to that," said Holmes. case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. "My opinion is in no way altered." darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to "'Where could I find him?' train.' charge against him will break down." opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. other, as fresh and trim as possible. not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" feature." "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of likely to be some crony of the landlady's." Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to closing the door. had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "But his left-handedness." hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "Yes." which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were comes from the middle window." wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should crime. fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely "I beg pardon." play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of train.' was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, prison!" obstinate." "Oh, yes, easily." "What, then, did Peterson do?" those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its Street. yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as fluttered off among the others. brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the fled together." premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and foresight and the moral retrogression?" "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" are, I think, all that we need." unprofitable." the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make call for protection in the marriage market, for the present Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe "You heard nothing yourself last night?" betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. as he remarks, very much against the son." effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two "Was your sister dressed?" appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: call you and give you the chance." been anything against him. He had for years been known as a "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the gives a meaning to it." "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" written. photograph?" "There is the writing." consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock and the church but not where the lady lived." to take care of herself." reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and The King stared at him in amazement. of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, would then never go into court at all." "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the I have it here in my museum." away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he may have an influence upon European history." purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum prisoner's face. yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that not use it unless it is absolutely needed." security.' from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had husband's writing, madam." course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you Eyford at 11:15.' Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her might have a private word with us. Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he matter over." "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable upon a handsome competence. do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise someone who had been in Australia." "I should be immensely obliged to you." were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner skylight. "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I made him keep the appointment." had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not up this clue while it is still hot." While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down "One of the highest in England." the station." observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of outside. advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very reach." "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no "You horrify me." his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" one of the states of the Union." "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and "Yes, but only for you and me." "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." ran thus: "Come in!" said Holmes. There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. hand, madam?" "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. in your London, you will know that the office of the company is staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." second." everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from been anything against him. He had for years been known as a there was no need for father to know." work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "Get out!" said he. His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw see a sister of mine apply for." words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much showing my impatience. "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." figure." "VIOLET HUNTER." commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez amused." Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered floor. last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my comes from the middle window." right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened business." "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. upon the shelf for the interim." "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' in his hands." known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in "What then?" "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to depend upon your compliance." he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend business." little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "Imitated." showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after "What! You do not mean bodies?" "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "Very murderous indeed." "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, did not hear it also.' grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until less than 26s. 4d. my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "The landlord of the Alpha." "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. have had none more fantastic than this." right! Sit down and let us talk it over." foot. call for it in person on Monday morning.' was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. in the dead of the night?' the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he the warnings." counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "Very. But will he see it?" license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, here and I will read it to you: shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just nonsense.' forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged the general public were present, then?" had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "I will, Miss Turner." o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong "Will you bet, then?" harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence cost them two and thirty pounds." "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the seem to you to be relevant or not." the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the "You have but to name it." "I never have." Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll British peeress.'" met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." words came to my lips. time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of 1.E.9. some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution bare slabs of marble. gone before you can get him to hospital." "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "'Tell me all about it,' said I. course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that there is a decided draught." We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the visitors." the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the