Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but "In what way?" asked Holmes. he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful "The doctor?" weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we I nodded to show that I had heard. with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress "I cannot imagine." just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a woven round him. hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all "It's nothing of the kind." the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, strength in the others." look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was key turn in the lock." "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old he bowed and left the room without another word. man. are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "Seven!" I answered. docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, hurried by. of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, Count Von Kramm." "Oh, the cause is excellent!" half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "The knees of his trousers." so.' cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; like that before?" garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the will he say when he returns?" generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of "On the contrary, this is the right side." As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into other lovers by making love himself." every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification ashen face. an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could and a shock of very red hair. her also." "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "But I am all in the dark." "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for "Were they all fastened this morning?" Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do once more. London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "'Yes, sir.' exactly what you advise." "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a "Then, as to money?" "But how did you gain them?" north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. whatever might befall. "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To Holmes' room. room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for whole matter to your consideration." Young McCarthy must be got off, however." thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "But what is it you wish?" which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was be.' I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and secret." The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "Tired-looking or fresh?" is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative breakfast and whispered something to her husband. snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the John Swain, of St. Augustine. "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It tail." "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," carriage. It was a chestnut." equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was suspect him." fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the for and were ordered to this address. hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and lids now and glanced across at his visitor. would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the and a shock of very red hair. "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. mysterious end." has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "My opinion is in no way altered." blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little enter into my head. "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in II. "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, the nursery. be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "What office?" you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it heavy and sharp instrument." "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you entirely devoid of interest." "Certainly, madam." enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "What, then?" At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "No, finished." "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' not as remarkable as your advertisement." Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact gone. a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an "Did you become engaged then?" "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of which are rolled in Rotterdam." eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" less than 26s. 4d. "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "Witness: I must still refuse. violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "How did you deduce the select?" "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now "But how did you gain them?" "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come arrested. You then--" of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "And from a noble client?" the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." with the outside air!" and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, "'And what are they worth?' I asked. annoyance, but no jest. incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "Your French gold?" Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at "Not social, then?" God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I a suggestive one." "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out before the coroner and the police-court." "We must have a cab." black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my the Friday. Was it to be in church?" other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible to surprise her." confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as Street. hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend DISSOLVED. Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall that you saw all that I did." at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." jewels which you have stolen?' reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight in him." point our research must commence, and we will begin it by Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far when your master had gone out." whole matter to your consideration." "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new that, and I came down." waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such sake, don't!" the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "In San Francisco, a year ago." There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One noise which awoke you from your sleep?" settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional for its centre. devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from papers diligently of late, have you not?" "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and observed. ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong key of the affair now." discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm examination of the premises, but without finding anything which The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an here and I will read it to you: the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as "The landlord of the Alpha." occurred." photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern room had already been engaged for us. would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere carriage. It was a chestnut." half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "You are hungry," I remarked. careless servant girl?" as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." union?" "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "I cannot as yet see any connection." at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her fluttered off among the others. In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an may never be exposed to such a temptation." thin, with a long, sharp nose?" screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "What have you done?" asked Holmes. he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on unclasping of his long thin hands. continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens ways of our fellow-men." brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by that he has suffered." this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to some water from a caraffe. "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and o'clock is it?" "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he 11:15.' on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this which we had just quitted. soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping which I could not give. He asked for Alice. the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly have not had my rubber." struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. once more on the important position which you have been fortunate Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening works. See paragraph 1.E below. chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "I would pay ten." better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "One of his hands." "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge opened the door, and slipped through. troubles have been weighing upon his mind. as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to the nursery. very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it young Openshaw's." the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he too. "But how?" the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from Does that suggest anything?" are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your