been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from October 9, 1890. until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite hand, madam?" "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "It is true that I have been generally successful." by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally some mystery and the punishment of some crime." story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was as he folded up the epistle. It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but wedding?" I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was was a lad." time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what we went to search for him, face downward in a little they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a place no limit on the sum I may draw." result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "It came here." upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my your only hope of safety." pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is "How long did she speak to this Alice?" sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an II. better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would for its centre. Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." upon an income of about 60 pounds." "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his and that he would see to anything that turned up. abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his look dissatisfied." murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no and I shall be with you presently." "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in speckled band?" "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "When did it break out?" "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those quite distinctive." words came to my lips. "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded Farm upon the left." My friend smiled. "'Never,' said I. me have 200 pounds?' hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and that I can to serve you." written. the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been to arrive at through this?" come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was absorbing." "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to returned to France?" law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek throat." its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "That's no good." "An accident, I presume?" We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little of a light. attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope comes from the middle window." reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of derbies." safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it "In what way?" asked Holmes. "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who more terrible than the truth. "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, "My last client of the sort was a king." some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the nights." room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "At what time?" leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face man. I know him from the photograph." and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "Eh? What was that?" sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" to a light-house. "Yes, it was twisted." exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of The police have openly confessed that they can at present make "'Yes, I promise.' cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "Nothing?" do.' a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, his eyes and forehead. de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: business came to an end." doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. chair. people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all to go into your room and bar your shutters?" practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "The rest you will leave in our hands." any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week purpose of examination. have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow with her." attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of to affect your life." "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend "I have a cab outside." wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." outside." give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a what is your own theory as to what took place?" is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about I held the little printed slip to the light. was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to place no limit on the sum I may draw." "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from "You think that he is dead?" the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled crackling voice. bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If "So it appears." from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs http://www.gutenberg.net crime. practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is I. to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "I was sure that I might rely on you." reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the "Quite so. She has her freedom." evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the more terrible than the truth. computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as take the flies, but not before." following enigmatical notices: "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I new duties?' I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it populous neighbourhood." "Quite so." even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the opened a pocket-book and took out a note. certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "But who is he?" which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' that I may have something better before very many minutes are opportunities to fix the problem. shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of "Nearly eleven." that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. hereditary King of Bohemia." point our research must commence, and we will begin it by emerged. "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you on re-entering her father's house?" 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "Perhaps I have." house for five minutes.' Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "A confidential servant?" again." "I have come for advice." quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "We were both in the photograph." the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "I came to find a friend." From what you have told me I think that it is possible that necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my nice household for a young lady." brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "Do you receive much company?" he asked. of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or "'Never,' said I. station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE Heh?' was a loud and authoritative tap. former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his the Red-headed League." flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever "I see no marks." lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our forebodings. at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a south, for the country is more deserted there." chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. "Yes, there are nearly always some there." something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour instituted." opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" to-night." Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that wedding?" waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. details should find their way into the papers. Inspector "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "Then he might have called to you?" other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "I am to be neutral?" two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we learned something! Where are the gems?" and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and "Thank you. And your address?" another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that his cane at the bell-pull. Street. "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "It is solved." very morning of my second wedding." instituted." "In what way?" asked Holmes. "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his it." bedroom door." "You have but to name it." the armchair which I pushed forward for him. asked. any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." shoulder; "he's all right." was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert yet." "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew wedding?" was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the the matter." "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "Will you bet, then?" "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy matter over." vanished into the darkness. "You think that he is dead?" and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll tell them apart.' building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "Holmes, the busybody!" but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from distinguish the words: and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. "Ah!" of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left have an American origin." quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they or in danger--" without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "What then?" "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall interested in these little problems, and since you are good been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a that I may have something better before very many minutes are "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything