o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear the Red-headed League." know what is wrong with it.' having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of promised to bring home. slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which was feeling which was the fattest.' "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand very old mansion. after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and against a man in the prime of life?" "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave main points of my analysis." "What, then?" "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of "Yes, but only for you and me." speckled band?" "The doctor?" woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any "Not in a good cause." when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, and wait." done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get other lovers by making love himself." even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too union?" "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we "'As governess?' "Your sister is dead, then?" scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of dead, shall be safe with us." for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. place no limit on the sum I may draw." better in every way that they should make their position a little have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you This is what he says: "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. "Look there!" said he. "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he me, and I could not think that his explanation of the send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the character. a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A confronted him. side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very "Certainly." prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your congenial hunt. main points of my analysis." "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution excitement. Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, hurried away. threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be have got?" happened." "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I both be extremely obliged.' "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "Married! When?" footfalls from the street. have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "The Coroner: What do you mean? together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and the nursery. "Proceed, then." the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant "I was mad--insane." "Pray be precise as to details," said he. copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon "At half-wages, in fact." better in every way that they should make their position a little by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "I cannot tell." he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy brandy and water within his reach. my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was "Then I do not see the point." consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. make me his representative both with the servants and with the that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed Clair, of Lee." music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try that threaten you." too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "My own seal." suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he towards the blaze. relief. quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather even so self-evident a thing as that." are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "Where, then, is my wife?" stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which someone who had been in Australia." know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow never will be, entirely cleared up. deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain John Swain, of St. Augustine. room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I to tackle the facts." stammered. abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "Here?" to miss it." "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and back to my heart. you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "I should be immensely obliged to you." you." this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a hopeless attempt at recovering them." country, and eventually married, without anyone having a few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "Oh, fresh and glossy." "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. "And that is--" With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, everything which you would wish to know." determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "Yes." too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "'Oh, no.' Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "On the contrary, this is the right side." "Well?" my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of and no precautions can guard against." asked with his eyes open. adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little "Murdered?" fuss that is made over them." occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself despair." horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his It was close upon four before the door opened, and a vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little digesting their breakfasts at home." Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been But Holmes shook his head gravely. a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the enough to aid us in our search." blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as "'You cannot say what it was?' perplexity from it to my illustrious client. any little problem which you may submit to me." say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "I was sure that I might rely on you." and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He Young McCarthy must be got off, however." "And from a noble client?" Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round my room." "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. away into the river." "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door "No." "There are none." dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my "I never have." him nearly every evening." reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in photograph a cabinet?" Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the bedroom door." little adventures." dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that in my life." a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set you came in." "His face fell immediately. person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "But he might be a bachelor." Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "What, then, did Peterson do?" sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from "Yes?" death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll guilty parties." absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that "So I am. Very much so." to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." habit of advancing money.' work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened "Yes, sir." have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a my special province." lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which redistribution. "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. how narrow had been my escape. ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come interest. They are important, you understand, without being may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child details." Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting Heh?' taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version had died away into the silence from which it rose. of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your new acquaintance to Baker Street. these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the time." permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said and laid it on the table. floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in bare slabs of marble. walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn would apply.' own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. formed some opinion?" of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, The police have openly confessed that they can at present make individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get developed." "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" not use it unless it is absolutely needed." beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide Sutherland. her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this For additional contact information: had formerly been in part my own. encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "Pray tell us what has happened to you." state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time question," said Holmes, smiling. the roots. comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight late!' felt the room to be a little close.' "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, brain must have something in it." "I was mad--insane." breakfast." given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it she to prove their authenticity?" "One of his hands." "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the papers diligently of late, have you not?" "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what you came in." my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four "Perfectly so." "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three "But his lameness?" singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray You can understand that this register and diary may implicate leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. him, that man would not have given me such complete information Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any