to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling This is what he says: of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." whatever might befall. "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "Yes." window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her "'And the work?' interests were the same as his." IS foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De husband's writing, madam." fluttered off among the others. "It was an hour's good drive." then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "Your presence might be invaluable." and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up "And who is her maid?" done what I asked you, Jones?" the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded "Did you become engaged then?" and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress "It must be recovered." which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "'Yes.' I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would money should be paid at once.' firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "My last client of the sort was a king." assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, one else, I think." your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." hereditary King of Bohemia." lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" "Ah!" the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his strength in the others." stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a the iron safe, which he closed upon it. photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where forebodings. the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he for its centre. "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." the side-table." white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few of the vacancies.' "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of "Tired-looking or fresh?" look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, Mrs. Toller serenely. "I guessed as much." into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I come either from the window or the door. My attention was a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll "An accident, I presume?" robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and suggested at once that there must be a communication between the was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her ordinary clothes on?" "Ah!" that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion you understand?" centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the "She showed me, as I told you she would." Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "I guessed as much." "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. him. than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." with frightened eyes at his accuser. the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. "Did you become engaged then?" horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in lost his Christmas dinner." than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings the nursery. pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "To the police?" felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not you in yours." Leadenhall Street--and--" Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, be.' "I am still in the dark." Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide not, dad?" she asked. only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would me. "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "One of his hands." London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from which I could not give. He asked for Alice. St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable "'Entirely.' air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely "Yes?" "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I must be when I saw the door open.' from the brougham. "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the Leadenhall Street--and--" back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his as the one I chose?' "At what time?" "Because he was handy and would come cheap." adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do the one as in the other." "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always your billet.' "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, crackling voice. "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that which I could not give. He asked for Alice. a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham character. memory. unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." that he has suffered." several quiet little villages up there." moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste "Ten will be early enough." heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "The doctor?" This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with "I cannot tell." "But his left-handedness." save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "But how?" pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, entirely devoid of interest." "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step bare slabs of marble. Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, unclasping of his long thin hands. emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, "Then he might have called to you?" the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, to that open window." "'Stolen!' he cried. will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own "Married! When?" did not hear it also.' quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on system of imprisonment?" cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long you." then?" Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "Bought." other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. sooner or later she must fall a victim. leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. affection." I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "Very truly yours, against a man in the prime of life?" Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then a few minutes he said that it would be all right. feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon means taking possession of that which another person has a prior that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of "It's nothing of the kind." midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone think that he is innocent?" "Dark enough and sinister enough." "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What ill-usage at the hands of fortune. room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." in this note: course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to crime. had picked up in the wood. very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can "Yes, but only for you and me." "The murder was done with it." she used." some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "He is dead," cried several voices. compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "Pray let us have it, for all that." "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate me. You must get home instantly and act." front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely suggested at once that there must be a communication between the just called myself is not exactly my own." him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered me. Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face looking up at the numbers of the houses." moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he chair. "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting returned to France?" see me here to avoid scandal." middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "What shall I do?" a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed his forehead." hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & hands. corner of the building. jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds might have a private word with us. "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back "And now?" I asked. Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; that?' system of imprisonment?" if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice intrusion of other matters." and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by not interfere, come what may. You understand?" has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon have accepted such a situation. me where it went to?" it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and I shall communicate with you." "Nothing?" a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle "An enemy?" prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" because she had spent so short a time in this country that she should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; stepfather?" "Come in!" said he. only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "Ha! you find it so?" professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as "Pray let us have it, for all that." permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. "Come in!" said Holmes. relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "Nothing?" the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second gone. be.' "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is discontent upon his features. was shining brightly. "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, hand, madam?" the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' the inner apartment." - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, the dangers which encompass me." o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United "Stolen." "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the joking. them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely "But how?" distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had reach." it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, figure." a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "Yes, all." "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." own family. passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. written, and locked the door of the office after me. I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when which we had just quitted. promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' at a side door. of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the carried out of court." as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon