"The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told way in." assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had things are very often connected not with the larger but with the now. It seems that there had been some informality about their moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "'And what salary do you ask?' free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "But how?" ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you despaired of." bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace Where does the thing come from?' that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to information in his hands the value of which he did not himself hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his any more." "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I "It goes to the housekeeper's room." "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with call it cruel." "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head despair." "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. of note-paper. It read in this fashion: soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his "'You cannot say what it was?' months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "Yes, it was twisted." which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the "That is also quite modern," said the lady. the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out American. Then who could this American be, and why should he hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "'Tell me all about it,' said I. she might be summoned. Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a to surprise her." Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "To the police?" us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "What do you make of that, Watson?" you." chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. Holmes' room. appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied is now desirous of getting those letters back." "What do you mean?" work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in morning." rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from Pope's Court. peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "It is half-past ten now." have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for "'Certainly not.' this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my dead, shall be safe with us." "'Yes, sir.' now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it "We must sit without light. He would see it through the place of silver." fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door intrusion of other matters." Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most o'clock is it?" were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" one which it was hard to resist. dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the words came to my lips. I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and "Quite so." Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the searched, without anything being found which could incriminate to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked pity, because in other respects you would really have done very to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "'There is a drive, then?' "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his unclasping of his long thin hands. "I guessed as much." and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. in him." the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a "And why?" been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in to me. back into the street. "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn vague figure huddled up in the darkness. highly," said Holmes. "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to highroad, where all traces were lost. "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, 1.E.9. "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. "Very. But will he see it?" "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming yet." had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "BALLARAT." Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known some terrible trap for her." stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still British peeress.'" squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and here." wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. our word." enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life with her." violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. that you can jump it.' fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "But how did you gain them?" "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. leaning back in his chair. north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in unprecedented a position." smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "It is possible." all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "Very well, sir. And this stone?" have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to "It goes to the housekeeper's room." I nodded again. "You were travelling in the States?" "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, congenial hunt. c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "Precisely." remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." to me. us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round pity, because in other respects you would really have done very the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "What, then?" in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing opened a pocket-book and took out a note. convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight directors, with the result that you have seen." "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "If I can be of use." however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such "Always." card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step criminal. We have already had experience of such." and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell indiscretion." "Her father is very rich?" the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of yards of it?' pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of passage and a tap at the door. Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, make me his representative both with the servants and with the as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the fat-encircled eyes. The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "What steps will you take?" I asked. "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his already been minutely examined." inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE humiliation." first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what into the bag, and made for the door. at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is lumber-room." "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything asked. "Not in a good cause." the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that never will be, entirely cleared up. nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that frequently gained my first real insight into the character of that the gas is not laid on in his house?" governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt think you a quite exceptional woman." a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a forebodings. "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "Yes, they were peculiar boots." the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "And who is her maid?" Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I wanted for ourselves." stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes you?" "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the rooms." pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of Where does the thing come from?' Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the for securing the situation." money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, in his power. one of them." "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It License. You must require such a user to return or Literary Archive Foundation "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, had this final quarrel? details should find their way into the papers. Inspector depend upon my doing so.' advice." "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked only touch the interest." my former friend and companion. broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "She walked into the breakfast-room." on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He one or two very singular points about this room. For example, Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, meanly of me." "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work own family. before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "'Yes, it was gone.' strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed drawing your inferences." over his head with a sweet womanly caress. thirty. doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his