age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." make me his representative both with the servants and with the product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." Mrs. Toller serenely. "Of what day?" observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set from the brougham. may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to October 9, 1890. broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "'What, the red-headed man?' "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of upon the shelf for the interim." "And what then?" last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you what I may call a really hard day's work." decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that cup of tea. "And I to find an enemy." "I was mad--insane." I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of must compliment you." cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, of the one which your family is now devouring." "And how did he make his money?" an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to States. "Proceed, then." tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." anything to do with the matter?" bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "Yes, only one." In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an shall not find me ungrateful." room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you voice, changing her seat as requested. Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something emerged. been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" "Thank you. And your address?" "I answered that I had not. would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, be sorry for having acted so harshly." "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he highly," said Holmes. play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a mysterious end." "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the "You are certainly joking, Holmes." first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "Dark enough and sinister enough." prison!" "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. morning." completely overtopped every other consideration that we both maiden herself was most instructive." even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some You can understand that this register and diary may implicate remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may room had already been engaged for us. subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough your only hope of safety." ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could "I cannot tell." in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen your co-operation." way in." fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is "I shall be delighted." back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some chance at all." "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" most important business. It is probable that he will be away all laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "I cannot tell." Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and whether it answered to the description of any of their as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can question. in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I not within a twentieth part of the market price." which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. the address that was given us in the advertisement. dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe in my life." Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "How are you getting on?" "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a was lame." "Then he might have called to you?" "Really! You surprise me." and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "'And the work?' "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. despaired of." Holmes." arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! "'Then let me do so?' deduce something from that?" and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a used to be." "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, and effective." it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed congenial hunt. national property. I was determined that the law should have its address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips with the outside air!" "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, business came to an end." safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" he. dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss guilty one." transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a of fine shops and stately business premises that they really vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." four million human beings all jostling each other within the assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more nice household for a young lady." suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "I cannot tell." the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but you?" "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his answered with a sidelong glance. "To ruin me." Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking upon a handsome competence. "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if signal between you and your father? "No. His orders were to stay in the house." shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "My opinion is in no way altered." are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" tell him that I know him to be innocent." relief. case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to "But how will you look?" garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same of the vacancies.' copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which never to learn it at all." whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "He said that you could solve anything." "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "And you thought he was pulled back?" "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have me." understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution in a friendly supper." happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us My friend smiled. tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive habit of advancing money.' snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our It may be so in this case, also." other, as fresh and trim as possible. but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. lost his Christmas dinner." few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror writers could invent nothing more crude." "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow "I cannot think." know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" in darkness. "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of "'Oh, no.' favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "Her father is very rich?" the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah dates and names. your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "But not more so than I to find you." brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old American. Then who could this American be, and why should he adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the You want to know what became of those geese?" never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if she slowly sank and died without having recovered her a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my with some details as to your case." mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, "Nothing." sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use strode off upon his way. "'I am sure that I do not know.' as this. Pray let me have the details." "You are all wrong." ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "Yes, but only for you and me." burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "And that is--" call it cruel." "And the murderer?" Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "How long did she speak to this Alice?" Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and asked with his eyes open. zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." bears upon the case?" whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. even so self-evident a thing as that." "'Very good.' and put his glass in his pocket. "Nothing." casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "Yes, I have one waiting." sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike had died away into the silence from which it rose. labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "You have compromised yourself seriously." and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. yards of it?' "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and chambers. called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. Project Gutenberg-tm works. and laid it on the table. silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would me upon any point which I do not make clear." smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. him and tried to hold him back. perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for jewels which you have stolen?' took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the http://gutenberg.net/license). lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you of Fenchurch Street." after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may congenial hunt. sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. speckled band?" and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and business matters.' demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to so.' "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was business?" had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, me have 200 pounds?' ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a "Very. But will he see it?" "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of "He said too much." "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will obstinate." Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question which our visitor detailed to us. implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "'As governess?' "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes.