"Here?" completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers beyond words. hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "'Quite sure, dad.' you for a few hours?" his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and mystery." "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical to where he stood hid behind the curtain. called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her cheerful." I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over head. So long, then!" propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the gbnewby@pglaf.org that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such your most interesting statement." works. and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a so far?" into the bag, and made for the door. without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' followed. drove away. whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future place no limit on the sum I may draw." nothing of it?" here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I at my own good fortune. "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do me upon any point which I do not make clear." three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. it. happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always "But we can't all be." "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "I have hopes." for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, "Was your sister dressed?" http://www.gutenberg.net wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "No, I think that I'll take it." in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "And is that all?" *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well away to you." of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that legal crime." "Have you it here?" business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United "No." Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John thought that she would have been so carried away." lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, writing, and yet I know it well." "I know where it is." work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a "It is very kind of you." Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My little adventures." through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "This photograph!" concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that strength in the others." time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." suddenly upon us." "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at "'Certainly not. But why?' "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "But we can't all be." The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or thought that she would have been so carried away." grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "Yes." groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. cause to be." Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his writing, and yet I know it well." of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about that you wished to speak to me?' clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a visitors." Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and "Frequently." was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them father's young wife. "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, rat could hardly pass through." true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "What do you make of that, Watson?" should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "Oh, yes, easily." pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "Was there a secret marriage?" "Did you observe the colour?" after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, will take you up to see the machine.' he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." events than those which have happened in my own family." touch that coronet?' step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a present." in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "In San Francisco, a year ago." you." business at Coburg Square is serious." "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, discontent upon his features. "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before recover the gem." the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. made him keep the appointment." "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That wife's character?" my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His upon the white wrist. narrative." Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, just called myself is not exactly my own." disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it think that any burglar could have done. "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of subject to the trademark license, especially commercial silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. the iron safe, which he closed upon it. photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found "'No, I know no one in these parts.' fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler room had already been engaged for us. "Then I am your man." "Yes." house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my dear old homesteads?" I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office crackling voice. in this way: the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin dates and names. "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were himself. with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "I think that it is very probable." You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat Clair, of Lee." and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is laugh and put his lips to my ear. Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that that I may have something better before very many minutes are not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "Certainly, madam." job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for be best to do. "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy what I may call a really hard day's work." and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "Why serious?" 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." fire. You quite follow me?" You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I murdered man." more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles your own bird, so if you wish--" "Look there!" said he. success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no "I should wish to." had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney likely to be some crony of the landlady's." all that?" presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be "At half-wages, in fact." "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "No. His orders were to stay in the house." the nursery. "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "No. His orders were to stay in the house." forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram that I am arrested." concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a money should be paid at once.' he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "My dear Holmes!" rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of "My dear Holmes!" get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I John Swain, of St. Augustine. plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was papers must be those that are destroyed.' "Yes, but only for you and me." practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, "My dear Holmes!" another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "'I am sure that I do not know.' and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see believe that I should never have any practice at all. you?' "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't presented which may be striking and bizarre without being a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, excitement. it? Did I buy the geese off you?" might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen "Not social, then?" Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him putting in the horse. however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens discontent upon his features. "You have a clue?" glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no been with you?" method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa pressing in one house as in another. "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, "I know where it is." copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the awaited us upon the table. journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest cost them two and thirty pounds." "I beg pardon." it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on my former friend and companion. It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have where she found matters as described by the last witness. the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "I don't say that. Perhaps." from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he never will be, entirely cleared up. in the hope of finding them." news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We rose-bushes. "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I then?" commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "'Yes, sir.' villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his pound a week." works. See paragraph 1.E below. for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting the address that was given us in the advertisement. "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which writers could invent nothing more crude." faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "No, finished." "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little a few minutes he said that it would be all right. was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping were new raised from a basin. six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "May I see it?" "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying