acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. done what I asked you, Jones?" the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him singular points about the case. What did the police think of the "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for when you have done it." "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom use an arc-and-compass breastpin." to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." gbnewby@pglaf.org face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange south, for the country is more deserted there." lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite bonnet, and went out." admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United "What! Had he lost his wife?" and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of foot. left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by little adventures." with you alone." the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in business matters.' caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind so far?" about. that hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and quite distinctive." now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of begin with, and I had not got mine yet." sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, in your London, you will know that the office of the company is "The knees of his trousers." down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked served to weaken the effect. going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I "So I am. Very much so." outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "But his left-handedness." sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "Who by?" "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "But how?" grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "Pray let us have it, for all that." me, and I could not think that his explanation of the had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "It is solved." accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. vault. 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" morning." "I have my revolver," said I. "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "I don't say that. Perhaps." "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his not interfere, come what may. You understand?" thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was forecastle of an emigrant ship. as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it gone. orange pips. makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "Imitated." "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my "I cannot imagine." connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this "A client, then?" made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of emerged. works. father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" one else, I think." violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a the morning and make my own way in the world.' putting in the horse. where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat she slowly sank and died without having recovered her You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" help us in this matter." putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the a very grave face. George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and me. You must get home instantly and act." indeed which he could not unravel. and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save "At half-wages, in fact." "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm stepfather?" friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." to where he stood hid behind the curtain. look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent impression behind it as though a window had gently closed into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large papers must be those that are destroyed.' despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get fact, we may call it conclusive." "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "On Monday." broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she the inquest, and which are worth considering." Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper me have 200 pounds?' a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "I am to be neutral?" could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more criminal. We have already had experience of such." "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "Yes." call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a "It looks newer than the other things?" to-morrow." secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a rooms." have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned within hail.' statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the several quiet little villages up there." "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son "Come in!" said he. the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." look upon these things in a different way." strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness one of them." "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King roused himself from his reverie. the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." became a certainty. the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, said he. any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to Holmes." "Because he was handy and would come cheap." matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which "Indeed! Whose, then?" "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "She will not sell." ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the lost his Christmas dinner." from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing Lestrade of Scotland Yard." the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and "It is his hat." from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, Munro.' The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he already referred to. went to the Alpha were town bred." "And how did you find out?" come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "'Why that?' I asks. "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight bird of prey. fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in present strange and interesting features that it is no easy before, for it was considerably after midnight. and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. into her hand at the door and which lured her within their individual and becomes the badge of a society." me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so furiously. and inquire as to the address." ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" Serpentine Avenue. as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera the Friday. Was it to be in church?" in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows formed some opinion?" cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the have had none more fantastic than this." glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was vault. "But I have heard all that you have heard." over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. for securing the situation." "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "Not him." deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "That is not always so easy." there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square absolutely follow my advice in every respect." knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the arrested. You then--" "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase just ask you whether you had heard it.' like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, discontent upon his features. ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a Edgeware Road. in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and like that before?" ways of our fellow-men." the Assizes." wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. rooms." "It is half-past ten now." "Then the page we have seen--" distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, criminal. We have already had experience of such." "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, shall use the carriage to-night." putting in the horse. prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "'Stolen!' he cried. screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and was the fact that his father should, according to his account, "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You Lee, in the county of Kent." Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "What I expected to see." Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. certainly not very gracious." man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your events than those which have happened in my own family." terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough I held the little printed slip to the light. my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what there." the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. for securing the situation." Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was threw himself down with his face to the pillow. a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, hopeless attempt at recovering them." from the brougham. that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "He might." "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every more terrible than the truth. "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "I am in hopes that she does." call for it in person on Monday morning.' death." had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "No." "'Certainly,' I answered. should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "So I heard. You have him here?" young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every long narrative. learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that "No. What a strange idea!" "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right "I was afraid that you were engaged." against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "But she could not love him." call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night."