hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. fashion which was peculiar to him. hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. nothing of it?" at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the mystery!" shadow pass over his face as I spoke. might help us?" pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "And why?" severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, colonel looking down at me. edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you six. Come in!" are, and they are waiting for us." assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed business." present." "'What do you call purely nominal?' All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley trying to your nerves." the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm "Why? What do you mean?" knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is "And from a noble client?" other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback humiliation." It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in do.' Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "I am sure." "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the But Holmes shook his head gravely. or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the to-night?" I asked. of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. some city in a dream. "No bad?" with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small instincts rose up against that laugh. fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, "I should like to see him very much." quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." chair. was a perfect sample of the class. shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "Will you bet, then?" floor. the inner apartment." ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your desk. singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "Was there a secret marriage?" and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we them present such singular features as the strange train of grasp, he hurried from the room. never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "Pray be precise as to details," said he. them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I "If I can be of use." we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can and inquire as to the address." the room while you explain this matter?" Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which "That you are never beaten." paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "Your presence might be invaluable." his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "She walked into the breakfast-room." gentleman's clothes. "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "We were both in the photograph." repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I light and attacked it." whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to Cross for the Continent." I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some not interfere, come what may. You understand?" Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "Yes, I have one waiting." very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' a good hundred miles off by now." "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the strange features which were associated with the two crimes which utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a about. "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." "Well." "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of "Look there!" said he. "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." tension within him. next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My could gather together that I was able to avert another public "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the "This concluded the examination of the witness." interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and threw himself down with his face to the pillow. Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in outside." by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all fasten all the windows?" noise which awoke you from your sleep?" the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the "Deserted you?" Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have "What do you make of that, Watson?" the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it means taking possession of that which another person has a prior Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring other, as fresh and trim as possible. "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and other means.' which should have the effect of calling the attention of the sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. your own bird, so if you wish--" his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a "I answered that I had not. Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of outside." come either from the window or the door. My attention was should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of "It goes to the housekeeper's room." "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "Nothing." your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "You have carte blanche." police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to me what he had done with the three missing stones. "Well." characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad I approached. am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." tapping his fingers upon the table. upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in four million human beings all jostling each other within the at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No interested in these little problems, and since you are good "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of which we had just quitted. "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very who was a member of your goose club." My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no "You are all wrong." same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the other means.' Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." pound a week." the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which Leave Paddington by the 11:15." far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. which it had come upon my father." husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "Quite so. She has her freedom." ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel ready to-morrow?' "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "Of what day?" "Look there!" said he. 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a it were putty." "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! "Really! You surprise me." Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of light and attacked it." sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure them, and came down just as you departed. "Where is it, then?" much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress in the port of London." a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid sofa. This way, please!" remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door "Thank you. And your address?" incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the cigars in their mouths. closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few "'Which dealer's?' eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" "Precisely." indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed you." "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the useful material for showing traces. The double line a little come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and woman who has had her own way to make in the world. provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I "What then?" and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, during which he might have communicated with his friend the without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." flock.' pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round vault. you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very conclusions. for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "What is it?" resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. maiden herself was most instructive." How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, beyond words. "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "He said too much." note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is name is different." "I will, Miss Turner." summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" his face. layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I voice, changing her seat as requested. glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their "Was the window open?" girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, papers diligently of late, have you not?" sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "And how?" "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern used to be." his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "Very much so." "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "I beg pardon." chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a undoubtedly my uncle's." and a shock of very red hair. stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, suddenly upon us." to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their "Very. But will he see it?" drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an 11:15.' keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. next day. "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that "How on earth--" permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid speckled band?" you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "Then he might have called to you?" there." "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My call it cruel." cup of tea. presume?" quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "No. His orders were to stay in the house." look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and was already answered. To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, the coronet at all injured?" routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "Oh, the cause is excellent!" the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough present." "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "ARAT," I read. new acquaintance to Baker Street. "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do distinguish the words: in my life." "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of I think that I could be of assistance to you." "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner case-book, which he consulted. Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or awkward doing business with an alias." nonsense.' meant." result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened