shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help said I. seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see gone before you can get him to hospital." Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses could go. confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "Not particularly." "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged annoyance, but no jest. my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no maid will bring up your coffee." that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "And you don't know his address?" "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "That is possible." safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming "Where, indeed?" "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. the window, rose as we entered. "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and goes." rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but completely overtopped every other consideration that we both there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "Do you receive much company?" he asked. been able to understand it, in a very few words. comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "It is solved." hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "'What do you call purely nominal?' "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "She will not sell." indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, the dangers which encompass me." Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was it." that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed "Where did he live, then?" saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some past. shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "It surprised me." consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it because she had spent so short a time in this country that she one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are "I will try. What is it?" methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from imbecility!" he cried. already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "'Yes, I promise.' it." table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, to tell." I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; the bottom.' this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "My dear Holmes!" "Eh? What was that?" the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." too. and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in several quiet little villages up there." I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "Come in!" said Holmes. "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from "And it is--" young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open hereditary King of Bohemia." his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. maid will bring up your coffee." you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six him nearly every evening." "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you power." "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to For additional contact information: use an arc-and-compass breastpin." begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I national property. I was determined that the law should have its "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "I am to be neutral?" the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For crime." seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another could not account in any way for the presence of the missing before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me I. with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike there." "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "How are you getting on?" vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She at my own good fortune. among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. but preventing her from injuring another. redistribution. "Pray do so." transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" recall any case within my experience which looked at the first scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. Pope's Court, Fleet Street." (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "You think that he is dead?" of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "By train from Waterloo." if I call to-morrow?" your equipment. "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded throat." "My stepfather's business papers." which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "'What, the red-headed man?' I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I "Yes, there are nearly always some there." Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "They are typewritten," I remarked. ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "Never to return." showing my impatience. in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" absorbing." Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the one of the states of the Union." man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to "Then I can wait in the next room." King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' guilty one." "We must sit without light. He would see it through the after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he knowledge of the world." Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof get her out of the way." Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I now. It seems that there had been some informality about their concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until jewels which you have stolen?' "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "Come in!" said Holmes. The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how clanging. need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no excitement. The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out of the vacancies.' The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend trying to your nerves." my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, "But of what society?" is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, nothing of it?" dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "You horrify me." disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "What then?" "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house business." laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you fishes. Munro.' there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable which we had just quitted. and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. legal crime." mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what that I may have something better before very many minutes are We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could off." iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, flock.' "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father But Holmes shook his head gravely. constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be entirely lost his self-respect." way: can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "'I am sure if I had known--' fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see "I am following you closely," I answered. cigars in their mouths. "I don't believe it." against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." strange features which were associated with the two crimes which prepare for the new role I have to play." miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, Countess of Morcar's?" tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, "It missed him, then?" "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something upon the shelf for the interim." "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and "So I heard. You have him here?" "My dear Holmes!" promised to bring home. arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of indeed happy." have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. "I will try. What is it?" from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "Witness: Nothing definite. "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it strode off upon his way. afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I "The knees of his trousers." relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong "Yes." out." of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." whole matter to your consideration." agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a once more. harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not Sutherland. my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was "And what did you learn from him?" 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me British peeress.'" first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss presume?" "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "And now?" I asked. house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the mysterious business." "What! a murderous attack?" for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of you found me to-night--and running through the front room she the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just "Yes." There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the public press." brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of "That is it on the dressing-table." beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left outbreak?" Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy shaken than I had ever seen him. panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get looking up at the numbers of the houses." the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but shoulder. "A call for help, you thought?" takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly said he. light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third strength of mind to control. on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "He said too much." the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able about here speaks of his kindness to him." suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business "And sit in the dark?" my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "About a month then." actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined prison!" I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of father's young wife. abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This "Has he come with you to-night?" doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so Eyford at 11:15.' Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the to take care of herself." heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would on re-entering her father's house?" which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of there in twenty minutes." "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was manager. vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "How do you know, then?" hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a