along the entire front of the house, with three long windows man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such the side-table." the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but are, and they are waiting for us." sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the respectable self." himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin weighed down with some great anxiety. but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but "Nothing." photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, noting anything else of interest. have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to I held the little printed slip to the light. distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of from you?" on re-entering her father's house?" "What I expected to see." chambers. "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "'I am sure if I had known--' "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If other lovers by making love himself." ran thus: "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man posted to-day." "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "I would pay ten." at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, constraint." age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very girl said." something of him before." have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "Yes." "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had "Yes." for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated said he. nonsense.' has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "I am armed." "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations washing it down with a long draught of water. All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your vague figure huddled up in the darkness. would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "I will, Miss Turner." the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in events than those which have happened in my own family." "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "There are none." tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was few hundred pounds.' "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one "What will you do, then?" Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he been lifted and conveyed somewhere." produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "And leave your case unfinished?" of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "Texas, I think." not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. room. upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a results." by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not throat." tapping his fingers upon the table. upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated McCarthy." that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal II. A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "On the contrary, this is the right side." than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose down in his armchair and closing his eyes. While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall you." pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped Miss Holder?" mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass absolutely follow my advice in every respect." the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said Sutherland. play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently and prosperity to your house. Good-night." journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced your equipment. have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough it. twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately place no limit on the sum I may draw." "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "In which, sir?" burst out into a roar of laughter. And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case for the market.' of this gang." my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, "Only as much as we can deduce." "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek one of the states of the Union." keep the flames under. "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to and it need not interfere very much with one's other "Was the window open?" "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. "Proceed, then." attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop generous with you in money matters.' gbnewby@pglaf.org produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no gentleman's clothes. rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "So I heard. You have him here?" shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. instincts rose up against that laugh. "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue ordinary clothes on?" through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "No. His orders were to stay in the house." controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, you give your casting vote to?" the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents to a more successful conclusion." that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as these bleak autumnal evenings." be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in as the one I chose?' main points of my analysis." friends, not even his own brother. money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled Pool. "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." business?" tear off another piece?' had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "I have solved it." "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "ARAT," I read. front of me. is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard Young McCarthy must be got off, however." cigars in their mouths. the window, rose as we entered. ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in you." hurried away. "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no and looked back. the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever "And did you observe any change in her then?" official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family once more to my work. active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the "And what then?" the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that some terrible trap for her." could go. "That also I could fathom." of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that locked. "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. more terrible than the truth. explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line more solid." "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, in one or two places in England?' forbidden door. surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open The police have openly confessed that they can at present make "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very "But she will refuse." "The King of Scandinavia." searched, without anything being found which could incriminate hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then to take care of herself." another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that Pope's Court. save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed you." comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own chemical work which was so dear to him. Holmes' thin, eager face. eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the your own bird, so if you wish--" "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for "And how did he make his money?" have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must such attractions and accomplishments?' complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs shag which I had seen upon the previous night. solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, lost nothing by them." "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been questionable one." "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "Very. But will he see it?" closely." skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to in his hands." my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him help us in this matter." entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For fattened it expressly for you.' weighed down with some great anxiety. with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch "And Irene Adler?" after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. chambers. found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in go from here to the Strand." more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the searched, without anything being found which could incriminate nonsense.' member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "'How far from the body?' predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other chance." and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." Literary Archive Foundation must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then there!' "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "Did you become engaged then?" "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her "I cannot tell." all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been dates and names. when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any now. It seems that there had been some informality about their stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. "'Which dealer's?' all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, copied or distributed: all?" to me. on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, "Murdered?" base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and ways of our fellow-men." down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the Sholtos." uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. third from London." which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "Not I." seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of present." present." be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King point in the dark hollow of his hand. quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be memory. "You horrify me!" whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if "Really! You surprise me."