amused." facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "I was mad--insane." "No, distinctly professional." surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are "Quite so." outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was you." of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly carriage. It was a chestnut." "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his present." "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "'Ten to two.' "Here?" was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily place of silver." License. You must require such a user to return or "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in status with the IRS. it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" posted to-day." copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "To ruin me." with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive Gutenberg-tm License. seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able straighten it?" cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood you found me to-night--and running through the front room she Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It the date of his supposed suicide." his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "Indeed! Whose, then?" used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "My private note-paper." go--none." separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "Yes, he did." see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on himself in a perplexing position. you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a noble correspondent could be. yourselves in at night?" "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "'Ample.' inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the careless servant girl?" "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no some water from a caraffe. occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "You think so, too?" "Of what?" you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel instincts rose up against that laugh. "Yes. He waved his hands." pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At felt the room to be a little close.' if only as a check to my own memory." "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "How many? I don't know." do.' saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I disturbance in my wife." of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against to miss it." "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is fuss that is made over them." pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other to talk it over. the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be unkempt, staring out at me. of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building promised to bring home. Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes could not have written that. It is the German who is so tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand "Quite so." tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, his wife has ceased to love him." figure." "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your least a fellow-countryman. too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." and glanced through. Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to three of the beryls in it, was missing. on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and "And how did he make his money?" husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the in this way: contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "And leave your case unfinished?" Mrs. Toller serenely. felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the "What! a murderous attack?" loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "It was a confession," I ejaculated. much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the throat." "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "May I see it?" "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, of the way of danger. recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "'And the work?' "'I shall certainly be there.' answered with a sidelong glance. front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate the salesman. myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the you came in." and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." details should find their way into the papers. Inspector in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "Where did you address your letters, then?" "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "Then I can wait in the next room." As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one "Was the window open?" round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the felt the room to be a little close.' permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open "And for present expenses?" Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a to change my dress. home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "It must be recovered." Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as straightened it out again. "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were detective. smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "What!" he roared. suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical front of me. time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was "Ha! you find it so?" "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "No bad?" were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were colour had been driven from his face. to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "'About the same.' Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be Miss Holder?" "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" business in the City. She little knew what. "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new forebodings. beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, locked." of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple despaired of." wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have crime." face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." "I have hopes." him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "On the contrary, this is the right side." "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering more terrible than the truth. he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists chair. managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to waste of energy." the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the ourselves in the office." over here." "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." friend's singular character. "Stoke Moran?" said he. metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I Project Gutenberg-tm works. on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue questioning and rather startled gaze. very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the fire. You quite follow me?" lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be absorbing." being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "I never have." strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the "Stoke Moran?" said he. last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "Was the window open?" "But it has twice been burgled." Sutherland?" "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and business came to an end." "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "It may not come to that," said Holmes. while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. "Pray tell us what has happened to you." matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and bill, which interests me deeply." for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a the one as in the other." you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "'I have heard so.' fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" throat." conclusions. Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "Game for a morning drive?" in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "Yes." gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of bore every mark of being an average commonplace British other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with to that open window." of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so bedroom door." "'Never.' in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The sooner or later she must fall a victim. fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager means taking possession of that which another person has a prior do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. "You think so, too?" There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called into the room. should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "Has he come with you to-night?" call it cruel." little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the bachelor.' But Holmes shook his head gravely. on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was burst into a hearty fit of laughter. about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in province." august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their His smile broadened. strength." paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I the very letters. But what is this written above them?' determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the information in his hands the value of which he did not himself key turn in the lock." the morning and make my own way in the world.' "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so second." round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "Yes, from Horsham." "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "An accident, I presume?" were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "Thank you. Pray proceed." of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a meanly of me." "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. silent! Oh, he will be silent!' that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "Was the window open?" would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his in the hope of finding them." seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "VIOLET HUNTER." heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his nothing with him." "'There is a drive, then?' face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes done what I asked you, Jones?" which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have against a man in the prime of life?" events, Mr. Windibank!" his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" province." all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side one's self under obligations.' confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I The telegram which we eventually received came late one night that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I weapon." its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of "And the murderer?" of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. on re-entering her father's house?" LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE empty. "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post points to suicide?" started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "What! Had he lost his wife?" "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of page at http://pglaf.org "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "It was an hour's good drive." red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a country, and eventually married, without anyone having a The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "What are you going to do, then?" I asked.