man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, arrangements." familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is been." "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a to change my dress. "A client, then?" a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do was a loud and authoritative tap. you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of "At half-wages, in fact." signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which "You heard nothing yourself last night?" "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting bird of prey. with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The himself. understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided do.' "What can you not understand?" thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to before, for it was considerably after midnight. "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were "I see no marks." stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by passage and a tap at the door. occurred." the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at "I have my revolver," said I. As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have written, and locked the door of the office after me. America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just be best to do. four million human beings all jostling each other within the Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at "I should be immensely obliged to you." month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "It is very clear." "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this Again Holmes raved in the air. grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased "Then he might have called to you?" you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the "I will, Miss Turner." large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have this man was intellectual?" possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular minor matters until to-morrow." over with notes and figures. foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed go back?" Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "It looks newer than the other things?" home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front "I am all attention, madam." will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in letters?" drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "I don't believe it." drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "And your mother is alive?" at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole and have this put in the evening papers." could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average soul! here is her carriage at the door." "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached evidence," I remarked. glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical any little problem which you may submit to me." "'Yes, I promise.' have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and direction." rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. be. from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had did not hear it also.' Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of the so-precious time, but come!' own family. "'There is a drive, then?' thirty. the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" recover the gem." "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at asked. the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally had picked up in the wood. I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for fire. You quite follow me?" asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the might help us?" gentleman's clothes. all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may affection." finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic "Tired-looking or fresh?" photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do beg that you will break it off." half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She as yours." has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the bled considerably." "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may foot. will be renamed. served to weaken the effect. weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of II. is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a Mrs. Toller serenely. "But how?" miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, "And I to find an enemy." broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that From what you have told me I think that it is possible that used to be." "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker said he at last. means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "The best possible." to some other building. plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the heavily into it. of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, have accepted such a situation. "What, then?" pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the over part of the map. "What do you read?" Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no Leadenhall Street--and--" be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." chambers. in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible together. Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "Your French gold?" himself to hunt down. as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let security.' And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at legal crime." "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of cost them two and thirty pounds." "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me some water from a caraffe. Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down six. Come in!" incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella The police have openly confessed that they can at present make someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "'Tell me all about it,' said I. said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, Leave Paddington by the 11:15." face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my he. this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and breakfast?" was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry light and attacked it." ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. "Bought." absorbing." so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I Holmes' room. "I was certainly surprised to find you there." was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, papers." own family. "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with foresight and the moral retrogression?" "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me woman who has had her own way to make in the world. reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of the inquest, and which are worth considering." fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very License. You must require such a user to return or drawing your inferences." horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An forbidden door. frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. corner of the building. lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "'And what salary do you ask?' "What steps will you take?" I asked. "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." Where does the thing come from?' "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so fait accompli?" prison!" what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, "You horrify me!" the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "Why? What do you mean?" "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet "They are typewritten," I remarked. John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold and capable of preserving a secret.' "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I sooner or later she must fall a victim. them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the "I cannot think." away in different directions, and I went off to make my own business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided "How did you trace it, then?" "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of few hundred pounds.' whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "'Is purely nominal.' present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the "To the police?" akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the daring than any effort of the imagination." surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, back to my heart. seem to you to be relevant or not." been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "What!" he roared. important." "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. words came to my lips. Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven of them has the shutters up.' "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that yourselves in at night?" "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right ventilator." liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were situation." see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" "My photograph." covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the outbreak?" present." It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "'What are you doing there?' he asked. and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in Leadenhall Street--and--" the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, highly," said Holmes. "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not