begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person of note-paper. It read in this fashion: business came to an end." disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than children over to America with him, so that I found myself without lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "Look there!" said he. them?" "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "I fear not." to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that straightened it out again. on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous me upon any point which I do not make clear." same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you "Deserted you?" us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which round and wave him away like that.' station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she have not had my rubber." find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." "Quite so." front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has quite distinctive." truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every is so. I know all about McCarthy." "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be "But how did you gain them?" the very morning of the wedding." to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a least a most suspicious remark." had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and "'Is purely nominal.' a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I official police." Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned light and attacked it." headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary she slowly sank and died without having recovered her developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A "That is unusual in a young girl." may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached American. Then who could this American be, and why should he While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate way: indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the certainly do as you advise." Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my your co-operation." with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice your room." We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are like that before?" face and glided from the room. "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked key of the affair now." once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, which our visitor detailed to us. lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few fashion which was peculiar to him. "That is it on the dressing-table." "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be this unhappy family?" 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross "None." shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" "Very much so." conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would "Yes, all." "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious that you wished to speak to me?' smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too appeared upon the scene." "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "'Yes.' recover the gem." air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away Street. "Yes?" while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" which our visitor detailed to us. Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon away into the river." works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could triumphant cloud from his cigarette. envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' Leadenhall Street--and--" We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of second." I am not easy in my mind about them." slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." arms and began to sob in a high treble key. "What then?" nonsense.' "Will you bet, then?" when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in "Pray continue your narrative." turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than gone. "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "It is solved." man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to "But how did you gain them?" "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord fluttered off among the others. words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt ashen face. "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." place no limit on the sum I may draw." during that time.' near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "10th. John Swain cleared. rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern congratulate you again." "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, the side-table." "No." round with crates and massive boxes. and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" shaken than I had ever seen him. back into the street. Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put Holmes' thin, eager face. face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, forebodings. present strange and interesting features that it is no easy that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. window when the police appeared." in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "I cannot say that I have." while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, important." opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that your Highness to the police-station?" understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "Will you go?" the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "Why did you pick him?" devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "And now?" He raised his hand. daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not residence of the great financier. Count Von Kramm." salesman. unprecedented a position." guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some him to go away.' "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," most interesting one." same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce pity, because in other respects you would really have done very out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most a monotonous occupation." charged with?" it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, of a light. consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen fire. You quite follow me?" "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave them present such singular features as the strange train of London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered joking. along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we you came in." breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between the little opening for the ventilator is." conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my case-book, which he consulted. over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "What office?" the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or the loss of it. "What can it mean?" I gasped. to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my in him." presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide key of the affair now." nothing of it?" "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales rooms." whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which cup of tea. however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in anything to a woman, for she would have her way." Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, "Pray tell us what has happened to you." ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, to tackle the facts." you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "Deserted you?" him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The acquaintance?" so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "None." Countess of Morcar's?" chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. fled together." "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite "What do you make of that, Watson?" first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." her also." the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at that to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here were new raised from a basin. a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a might have a private word with us. "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to States. INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her chambers. so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands about. himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a away to you." to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' to affect your life." disappearance of these gems?" "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. "Perhaps I have." to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of returned to France?" inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after and have this put in the evening papers." wall." to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing a room. "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional recover the gem." "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, into the room. ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the comes from the middle window." be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face here and I will read it to you: sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who to that open window." know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a interests were the same as his." this unhappy family?" Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "I have hopes." introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." maid will bring up your coffee." reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me "He said too much." some city in a dream. from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a them?" Farm upon the left." and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method whatever might befall. 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth his face which made him a very different person to the round, "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is astonishment. "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle "Then I do not see the point." down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The photograph a cabinet?" you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My time." four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without "But he might be a bachelor." "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the little adventures." papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged