the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. into the room. "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father guilty one." is worth.' fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old "Yes, sir." Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the IS following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there vague figure huddled up in the darkness. it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a "I think that it is very probable." "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly "No, distinctly professional." "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who "You did not overhear what they said?" turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of works. the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the my former friend and companion. smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. once more on the important position which you have been fortunate lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of sufficient punishment." unprecedented a position." He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do that "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he Leave Paddington by the 11:15." stammered. "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "And from a noble client?" owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work "It is a murder, then?" some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, is so. I know all about McCarthy." actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the purpose equally well?" from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then questioning and rather startled gaze. believe that I should never have any practice at all. statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. "It is a murder, then?" mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." girl said." nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action stalked out of the room. from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, noble correspondent could be. road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled hurried away. abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "Very. But will he see it?" fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else clanging. "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "Not him." man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her where she found matters as described by the last witness. "We must have a cab." "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the woman who has had her own way to make in the world. to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are It may be so in this case, also." railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his again before evening." "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon already been minutely examined." retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." hurried away. of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, me." centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. "You'll never persuade me to believe that." the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, who was a member of your goose club." that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, correct than the official force." Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a works. "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just electronic works have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not note?" to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "'Is purely nominal.' sit on the left-hand side of the driver." his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's your bag." "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, status with the IRS. would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest round with crates and massive boxes. "But what harm can there be in that?" only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and "Certainly." will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "Never to return." arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the "It must be recovered." about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "The King of Scandinavia." standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short again, where I was soon asleep. is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local "What steps will you take?" I asked. lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "'A dozen yards or so.' room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" said I. Watson," he said cordially. another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is fish-monger and a tide-waiter." instincts rose up against that laugh. carriage. It was a chestnut." an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week clanging. of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the think, you have already met." as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "I don't believe it." out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's excitement. not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police the bottom.' to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "In what way?" asked Holmes. "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "But she will refuse." Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his "'I have heard so.' away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the which it had come upon my father." and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful quite distinctive." said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. and looked back. card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the or in danger--" "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she of note-paper. It read in this fashion: I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "You are certainly joking, Holmes." not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he you understand?" It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, business?" I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary of this gang." "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I you?" "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "'Which dealer's?' "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "My photograph." "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "Yes, he did." that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see "But not more so than I to find you." down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation your co-operation." gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." was a perfect sample of the class. full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug and laid it on the table. Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "Well." little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his "'In my own bureau.' keep the flames under. woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "'Then let me do so?' Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a his forehead." and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for "You will not go there first?" total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was used to be." Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the forbidden door. window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, in a very precise fashion." conceal it?" gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I "And did you observe any change in her then?" could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been disappearance of the bride.'" a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "I promise," said Holmes. "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "It is very clear." gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who your own bird, so if you wish--" "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some not interfere, come what may. You understand?" "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent if she died from some sudden fright." them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that room. sufficient punishment." "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father notes," he said. has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was "How about poison?" known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few coroner's jury." these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I what these perils are?" words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "Yes, the wine-cellar." "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the "Your French gold?" "And you thought he was pulled back?" dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity rose-bushes. wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her stepfather?" forecastle of an emigrant ship. often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." laugh and put his lips to my ear. Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of without success. At last the little money which I had saved began in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with means taking possession of that which another person has a prior III. "I know where it is." in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped learned something! Where are the gems?" logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were But Holmes shook his head gravely. hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more your troubles." forehead. heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird in his power. crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, *** START: FULL LICENSE *** But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had Holmes." "What can it mean?" I gasped.