mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, Holmes." outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a for its centre. analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner my little problems." "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The instituted." impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "It was an hour's good drive." printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. the inquest, and which are worth considering." product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able definite end. next day. "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in "And how?" work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all knowledge of the world." memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his to a more successful conclusion." c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "But we can't all be." "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just fish-monger and a tide-waiter." attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving business." sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and face and glided from the room. "And did you observe any change in her then?" reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "How did that help you?" "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" "Yes, it would be as well." "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but "Very truly yours, deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the "Never." with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven believe that I should never have any practice at all. "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to details should find their way into the papers. Inspector She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, call you and give you the chance." pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email had died away into the silence from which it rose. "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." was a loud and authoritative tap. giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. "No. His orders were to stay in the house." and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to anything to do with the matter?" "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little him!" receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay of them has the shutters up.' "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over matters immensely." chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband crowd. compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of digesting their breakfasts at home." through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy records." has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I "Well, it is a possible supposition." girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From paper in the air. listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, you for a few hours?" the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted late!' impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was comes from the middle window." at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which me upon any point which I do not make clear." didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't "From his hat?" he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. several quiet little villages up there." north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their his face which made him a very different person to the round, "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I becomes even more simple." "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, late." Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg "What! You do not mean bodies?" "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so likely to be some crony of the landlady's." had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of did not hear it also.' "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position bird of prey. found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the His smile broadened. child?' little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's delighted to hear it," he said. I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were see a sister of mine apply for." active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. Holmes." or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. and have this put in the evening papers." "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential room. and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing bore every mark of being an average commonplace British is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you past. and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his wedding?" I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only that the gas is not laid on in his house?" rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." all that?" telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his the armchair which I pushed forward for him. while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "I came to find a friend." and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the "Your French gold?" presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the "And why in hopes?" being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The one of them." bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the brain must have something in it." upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "The decline of his fortunes, then?" And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of that I may have something better before very many minutes are shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock gbnewby@pglaf.org station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before "My private note-paper." "I am following you closely," I answered. enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them very old mansion. "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea go--none." that I may have something better before very many minutes are think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the for the market.' figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, some mystery and the punishment of some crime." still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, burst into a hearty fit of laughter. and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his joking. Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on case-book, which he consulted. beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. stalked out of the room. own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose look dissatisfied." dates and names. that there was nothing in it, after all." your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the of his shoulders. "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be "One of his hands." "And I to find an enemy." it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an fled together." whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and tension within him. have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "You forget that I know nothing about it." in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" "Stoke Moran?" said he. absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to conversation I have gathered that they have been married about "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. felt the room to be a little close.' means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "To ruin me." photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, o'clock is it?" should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth weigh very heavily upon my conscience." gone. and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the late." on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil "I assure you that I am in your hands." "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong http://www.gutenberg.net registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "Absolutely none." he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." second." "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a "I never have." "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in asked. going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to take the flies, but not before." colour had been driven from his face. smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, "'What are you doing there?' he asked. for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." ways including including checks, online payments and credit card "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the His name is Francis Prosper." his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to "On Monday." sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. your Highness to the police-station?" India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for entirely lost his self-respect." get her out of the way." rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether "My own seal." provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room Literary Archive Foundation Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features "Not particularly." Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at him." Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this triumphant cloud from his cigarette. there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "Of Friday, June 19th." was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, But Holmes shook his head gravely. whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of "I don't believe it." it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the his wife has ceased to love him." "By no means." shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a my room." said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never success. my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. room?" right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his case before our client came into the room." Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative remarked. strength in the others."