know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has to-night?' "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. "'Yes, sir.' least a fellow-countryman. went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs second." Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. weapon." "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done Heh?' "It goes to the housekeeper's room." servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it John Swain, of St. Augustine. any little problem which you may submit to me." "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." ceremony." "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under window when the police appeared." reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' Doctor, of the paper and the date." o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "You are certainly joking, Holmes." his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in coroner's jury." "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and to affect your life." "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always leave you to your papers for a little." George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil behind me. "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely is so. I know all about McCarthy." the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah union?" Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." kind enough to tell me what I should do." "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You daring than any effort of the imagination." is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. have got?" "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, him and tried to hold him back. Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, burst out into a roar of laughter. "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. "In what way?" asked Holmes. "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the was the fact that his father should, according to his account, "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my good for you to do.' Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story "Oh, fresh and glossy." and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever closely." time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "Very much so." scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a Stoke Moran." "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear lost nothing by them." Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' bedroom door." without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "Yes?" "Yes." schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent digesting their breakfasts at home." "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. even so self-evident a thing as that." "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "Yes, from Horsham." Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. shoulder; "he's all right." the Red-headed League." my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of I. importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "It may not come to that," said Holmes. affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the about here speaks of his kindness to him." Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" careless servant girl?" Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the that you saw all that I did." the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist some mystery and the punishment of some crime." while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael where we are going." wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and "But how?" the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "Yes, I have one waiting." Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a leaning back in his chair. me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something answer." general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, depend upon your compliance." Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help tapping his fingers upon the table. observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught keep the flames under. "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such "I guessed as much." vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady "I will try. What is it?" a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his a room. A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year "I have seen the police." Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. attention." "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions business?" public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of outsides of the windows. seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "It is solved." drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that me what he had done with the three missing stones. of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "In the cells." mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high said he. spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "Nothing." professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in me. You must get home instantly and act." get her out of the way." that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." your troubles." balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, room. bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried From what you have told me I think that it is possible that hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "I will try. What is it?" lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an future lives." make me his representative both with the servants and with the wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "Come in!" said Holmes. something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I "What have you to say now?" "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "What, then, did Peterson do?" He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the Holmes' face clouded over. unkempt, staring out at me. believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "Tired-looking or fresh?" gigantic client. last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "Not him." "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "What!" he roared. anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor the stable lane now." "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle from you?" "You have compromised yourself seriously." "I was mad--insane." unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with hands. "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you carried out of court." south, for the country is more deserted there." last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall fishes. own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and works. which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the "I cannot imagine." little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. happened." "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is I approached. was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "Did he not advertise?" "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were "I cannot tell." wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that present strange and interesting features that it is no easy of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down here." one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I during which he might have communicated with his friend the "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it problems help me to do so." cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they your own bird, so if you wish--" "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by envelope. "Not I." make me his representative both with the servants and with the this as likely?" at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him "It is half-past ten now." fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "VIOLET HUNTER." without success. At last the little money which I had saved began reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, said he, "my real name is James Ryder." to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "Will you go?" in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "And when will you call?" "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "I am sure." I approached. blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "That you are never beaten." the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then nothing with him." over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate or in danger--" but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was beg that you will break it off." complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he more solid." companion. looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my such person." The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "Come in!" said Holmes. to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "Look there!" said he. though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in cost them two and thirty pounds." stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to do you make of it all?" the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt useful material for showing traces. The double line a little began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a and shall probably return to London by the evening train." "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were vanished into the darkness. de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "But she could not love him." A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she "But I am all in the dark." said I. upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "'Most admirably.' "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the noting anything else of interest. "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "What then?" Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' it." a very grave face. "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." dear old homesteads?" not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which "9th. McCauley cleared. possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied "None." away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "Just look it up, then." here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a him nearly every evening." the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the already referred to. woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet