"And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I without success. At last the little money which I had saved began "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be "The Coroner: What do you mean? absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. crime." until night should bring an explanation. about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "How are you getting on?" all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with at home. "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two without success. At last the little money which I had saved began "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler words came to my lips. "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "Absolutely?" my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. details." insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is gbnewby@pglaf.org "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, never came back." sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of and files of the old papers, following the future career of every lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the peculiar to him. "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. some city in a dream. will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the thirty. trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his recover the gem." caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, presume?" doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "No." dramatic, in fact." time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the relation between them, and what the object of his repeated fait accompli?" "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "And the murderer?" all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. hardly wander." money should be paid at once.' reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began intrusion of other matters." disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "You have it, sir, just as it happened." pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the "Yes, from Horsham." seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since think that he is innocent?" as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most fashion which was peculiar to him. so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "Have you her photograph?" the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we emerged. object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards "And your mother is alive?" not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. "It must be recovered." your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. me. You must get home instantly and act." 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary spare." platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed face and glided from the room. comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point in his power. myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long it means?" silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending http://www.gutenberg.net despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our assist you in forming an opinion." took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, "What will you say?" This is what he says: of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to I shall continue with my miserable story. "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his is a common subject for conversation. wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a seen the man in the road." Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on swore that no one else had been in the front room during the professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which not within a twentieth part of the market price." in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" know what is wrong with it.' learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so "In which, sir?" into her hand at the door and which lured her within their life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "Yesterday." "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "It was." to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the distinguish the words: I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something someone who had been in Australia." "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "I beg pardon." instincts rose up against that laugh. the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has province." lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a the inner apartment." which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, crackling voice. "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, wedding?" For additional contact information: an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that he died? his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that of the vacancies.' he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not direction." "By no means." one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he had no one to advise her at such a crisis." glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the "'What do you call purely nominal?' strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the notes," he said. written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. "What! Had he lost his wife?" while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. some water from a caraffe. wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good of Mr. Rucastle's." France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." it." opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six "If so, much may have happened between." fear." strength of mind to control. if only as a check to my own memory." graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of "And you thought he was pulled back?" "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you and the church but not where the lady lived." pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of know that the truth is known." course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been one which it was hard to resist. you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "Dark enough and sinister enough." reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might disturbance in my wife." "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, "And when will you call?" bonnet, and went out." "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I it means?" opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little quickly through a disagreeable task. flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "And what then?" "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm other lovers by making love himself." I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of promised to bring home. Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden security.' "We have tried and failed." impression behind it as though a window had gently closed of campaign. outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of will he say when he returns?" "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "But how could you guess what the motive was?" dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." chance at all." the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with My friend smiled. description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "It's nothing of the kind." "Pray do so." of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they "No sign of it?" the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to Street. above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always will find little credit to be gained out of this case." you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of this as likely?" of the vacancies.' without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if possible that we could bring him back to her? other lovers by making love himself." can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the ceremony." did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the was a lad." weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well bedroom door." "It looks newer than the other things?" "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, London for the present?" "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but figure." "Nor running a chance of arrest?" doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such go back?" "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "It certainly sounds feasible." This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with true." "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? has little to do with my story." Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the fluttered off among the others. and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "One of the highest in England." fear." XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might Street. with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. people don't know." against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a with frightened eyes at his accuser. I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and Have you good authority for what you say?" would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the strength." given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left long narrative. arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more "How did you trace it, then?" deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady there were one or two details which were new to me. But the remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men train.' very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "I am sure." of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather Leave Paddington by the 11:15." him." "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." The telegram which we eventually received came late one night though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." silent! Oh, he will be silent!' "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of with you?" for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good the King without delay." really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "My opinion is in no way altered." Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had that "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for you." "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened were new raised from a basin. case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." father's young wife. stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took to talk it over.