voice. at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is lips." manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "Yes, it was twisted." "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon round with crates and massive boxes. "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, plantation.' two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the and shall probably return to London by the evening train." "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let begun to whiten, even as mine has." simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "And for present expenses?" scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave "He is dead," cried several voices. a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "'Tell me all about it,' said I. the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "Texas, I think." ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, the room while you explain this matter?" his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. extraordinary contortions. settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. future lives." was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "To ruin me." public press." son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away of the one which your family is now devouring." the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "From his hat?" was already answered. relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "Stolen." "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "One of his hands." hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was or other trace. But how on earth--" days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, arrangements." death." "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a God! What an exposure! What can I do?" "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who "Very much so." "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." dead, shall be safe with us." politicians who had been sent down from the North. murdered man." "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in "'A dozen yards or so.' "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the returned to France?" "Get out!" said he. "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. detained." "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I "That is easily got." Mrs. Toller serenely. revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove of fine shops and stately business premises that they really the bed, and you in that chair." we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere look dissatisfied." opened the door, and slipped through. will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring very morning of my second wedding." "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the "One?" "'I shall certainly be there.' A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by possible that we could bring him back to her? We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." wedding?" that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was "You have the photograph?" "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the DISSOLVED. became a certainty. slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." during that time.' and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has past. off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had outsides of the windows. way in." have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper suggested at once that there must be a communication between the astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" criminal. We have already had experience of such." passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated down in his armchair and closing his eyes. the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would writing, and yet I know it well." "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my at home. 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. point our research must commence, and we will begin it by towards the blaze. you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through politicians who had been sent down from the North. away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how are, I think, all that we need." What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: room?" which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary me, and I could not think that his explanation of the have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting might help us?" you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who 1.F. "'Yes.' have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here said Mr. Holder. he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. to where he stood hid behind the curtain. address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, experiences." used to be." Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding was shining brightly. without a word or a look. "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "I should be immensely obliged to you." "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few "I think that I had better go, Holmes." I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his chambers. I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "Very murderous indeed." side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold "May I see it?" had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for father's place of business?" can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might breakfast." sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power in the port of London." The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it some place of shelter and let the county police know what has wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a character. second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "I am about to be married." incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when to his chemical studies. coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." may have an influence upon European history." 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her prisoner's face. donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "An accident, I presume?" "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little me, and I could not think that his explanation of the his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" and I shall be with you presently." "One?" pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or spark where all is dark to me." "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle father's place of business?" greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are sit on the left-hand side of the driver." He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, that threaten you." "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear shall not find me ungrateful." had a long day." base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "I have a cab outside." they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite not personally threatened." time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of papers on the sundial.'" fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of be best to do. a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly that departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." that you saw all that I did." together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, himself in a perplexing position. Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." said he. soul! here is her carriage at the door." better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your him. direction." "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could could not account in any way for the presence of the missing evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the "Of what?" remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may daring than any effort of the imagination." "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a 1.F. drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "But the mystery?" rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." front of me. believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some hereditary King of Bohemia." such person." "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" there was no need for father to know." own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his events, Mr. Windibank!" as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his the running down." "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed will find little credit to be gained out of this case." breakfast and whispered something to her husband. "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a strength in the others." "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the them?" so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted and your relations to her." came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind directly by questioning you." jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated "Perhaps we may make them less so." what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding "Yes." "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." this Miss Turner." as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, served to weaken the effect. "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "'About the same.' simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight unclasping of his long thin hands. note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall strength." the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was "But who is he?" Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that charged with?" "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between "You have compromised yourself seriously." right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "Yes, at the mines." the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of