reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "And is that all?" business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. me, and I could not think that his explanation of the and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old cigar and let me expound." again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her emerged. Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you conclusions. to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter been anything against him. He had for years been known as a urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry hurried away. had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will the south-west, I see." "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping "It must be recovered." she has been waylaid. There has been no result." from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left over part of the map. "What do you read?" absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, views." "Then, as to money?" "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own take the flies, but not before." "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, brain must have something in it." I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "BALLARAT." was shining brightly. work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "What have you to say now?" he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so the devil!" Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had residence of the great financier. mystery may be cleared along those lines." she used." "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "No more words. Get out!" nothing with him." "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the eat it." retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some "No legal papers or certificates?" adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a allusion to a rat. upon the shelf for the interim." the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a recall any case within my experience which looked at the first over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something married her." "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the the ceiling. away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to Pool. important." "Upon what point?" is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too in a very precise fashion." "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, "Have you it here?" flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at national property. I was determined that the law should have its "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I man. I know him from the photograph." is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. the address that was given us in the advertisement. "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I brain must have something in it." think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the discontent upon his features. instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my "You horrify me!" again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was success. days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect felt the room to be a little close.' could not account in any way for the presence of the missing animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in bird I ate is country bred." imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. "Will you go?" shaken than I had ever seen him. the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "'What would be the hours?' I asked. became a certainty. quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "We have tried and failed." "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look was used.' stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the mysterious end." consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name "Two days later this same performance was gone through under him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "An accident, I presume?" appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything new duties?' nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose and the church but not where the lady lived." springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and to have that photograph." "None. Neville wrote those words." Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is and that he would see to anything that turned up. came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall "You have but to name it." up this clue while it is still hot." colonel looking down at me. creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of "Come in!" said Holmes. "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "On the contrary, this is the right side." my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was key turn in the lock." Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin or in danger--" Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand which are rolled in Rotterdam." remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as shadow pass over his face as I spoke. news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders cigars in their mouths. bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. in my life." country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions about. circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." "I warn you that they are very incomplete." I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas "Whose house is it?" by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "I came to find a friend." "How often?" "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to congenial hunt. "I never have." very old mansion. your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. writer." "'You doubt its value?' he asked. "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "That is not always so easy." save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been was a perfect sample of the class. "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" him, that man would not have given me such complete information in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a then?" cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she "Proceed, then." said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "You did not overhear what they said?" "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent weighed down with some great anxiety. but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or "What, then, did Peterson do?" thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very ready to-morrow?' Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles residence of the great financier. stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my "Yes, all." from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently stepfather?" meanly of me." Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I husband's writing, madam." strange features which were associated with the two crimes which "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "Then I can wait in the next room." handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and bird I ate is country bred." which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' what do you think they found in the pockets?" secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "But he might be a bachelor." the little opening for the ventilator is." eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works "Yes." October 9, 1890. "ARAT," I read. Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees "Yes, all." his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "Ah, but I was recommended to you." legal crime." 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right acquaintance?" least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened Street. the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than situation." habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, forebodings. of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer "The Cedars?" not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "Eh? What was that?" front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of it." should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "Ha! you find it so?" newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the present strange and interesting features that it is no easy with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. "Certainly." into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of is so. I know all about McCarthy." coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to companion quietly. the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as power." me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and annoyance, but no jest. Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "Very well, sir. And this stone?" returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my Mary, has deserted me." rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for "But I am all in the dark." possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, society." cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, "That is possible." "I see no marks." "Where did he live, then?" my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. purpose equally well?" "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, "I am to be neutral?" burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, "In what way?" asked Holmes. conduct the inquiry." by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is "I will do it." photograph?" the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third "An enemy?" Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her yards of it?' easy-going way." this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the