performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous views." of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in matter." "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided Leave Paddington by the 11:15." blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we "May I see it?" Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the things are very often connected not with the larger but with the chance." during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is "Game for a morning drive?" protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the "I say it is." "He might." centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the them present such singular features as the strange train of nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the attention." "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me was a perfect sample of the class. charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have "I know where it is." "Of what day?" "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I said he at last. and effective." Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It the Friday. Was it to be in church?" unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I I have it here in my museum." Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. I held the little printed slip to the light. annoyance, but no jest. take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, was not a bird to be seen there. society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. the warnings." my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to "Holmes, the busybody!" question. took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" floor. "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "Yes." Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: "'Where could I find him?' fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less "Yes, they were peculiar boots." now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "Have you it here?" You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my some terrible trap for her." right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "And leave your case unfinished?" in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under that the gas is not laid on in his house?" Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "Where, then, is my wife?" "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and tell me that you intended to go into harness." during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the it with his own hands." any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "My dear Holmes!" was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly It may be so in this case, also." any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has voice. "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I "What have you to say now?" fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an this Miss Turner." "'Yes.' overpowering excitement and concern. fasten all the windows?" served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get of it with the greatest attention. became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "'Yes, I promise.' the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old companion quietly. "Yes." glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for is now desirous of getting those letters back." animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for assist you in forming an opinion." submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his "It must be recovered." stalked out of the room. correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "You did not overhear what they said?" Eyford." upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this bled considerably." and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "What then?" "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in asked. "Is he quiet?" was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to was used.' The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "'About the same.' "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses gone. room had already been engaged for us. no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the "Well, some hundreds of times." gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the memory. chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing weigh very heavily upon my conscience." name is different." he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and "Not him." into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the all?" "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "Yes." minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." "Whose house is it?" top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "Here?" and that he would see to anything that turned up. criminal. We have already had experience of such." 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what this Miss Turner." of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "And for present expenses?" "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I to-night?' shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the hands. "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have your only hope of safety." himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune so far?" "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass chemical work which was so dear to him. box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "You horrify me." "And leave your case unfinished?" with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and frequently gained my first real insight into the character of 11:15.' as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his forecastle of an emigrant ship. their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "Will you bet, then?" "It was a confession," I ejaculated. Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "You have carte blanche." quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle other lovers by making love himself." the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of what these perils are?" "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met the one as in the other." lectures into a series of tales." London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I I. The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his developed." we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in Sholtos." a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my of receipt of the work. description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms tell him that I know him to be innocent." in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in him." Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "Look there!" said he. distinguish the words: on re-entering her father's house?" brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, to-night." his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "In San Francisco, a year ago." went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the "And from a noble client?" "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "Not particularly." "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have one's self under obligations.' my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the the matter." highroad, where all traces were lost. every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs "I would give my fortune to have them back." "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the way in everything. went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until of his shoulders. shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "No." "It is a murder, then?" of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "No bad?" "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to astonishment. stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a the best of training." Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself James Windibank. Voilà tout!" remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of four million human beings all jostling each other within the outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular fattened it expressly for you.' "The vanishing of the lady." "Nothing." and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been undoubtedly my uncle's." presented more singular features than that which was associated records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to stammered. Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears you came in." had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. quite distinctive." the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." my special province." shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and is," said he presently: little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "To an English lawyer named Norton." "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the in this way: to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss character. "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that Stoke Moran." "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a him." suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the power." dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we disturbance in my wife." two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. kindly on the shoulder. electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, in the dead of the night?' word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this "Where did he live, then?" the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "And leave your case unfinished?" there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the http://www.gutenberg.net "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "How many? I don't know." "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable