developed." returning from some small jollification and was making his way in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "What do you make of that, Watson?" finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "Yes." wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper burst into a hearty fit of laughter. his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss "Absolutely?" 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "None." latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent them present such singular features as the strange train of reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which astonishment. These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had question you as to those details which seem to me to be most affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face young Openshaw's." broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For do you make of it all?" McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed just called myself is not exactly my own." suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or point in the dark hollow of his hand. "Witness: Nothing definite. might have a private word with us. pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," appointment with me for six o'clock?" said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see bachelor.' you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked remarked. including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, "No." scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to impression behind it as though a window had gently closed recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on companion quietly. "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." time." "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the was lame." position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You done what I asked you, Jones?" yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "No, I am descending." the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "I am following you closely," I answered. silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after other, as fresh and trim as possible. the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the meant." Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who room?" trifles." instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune made him keep the appointment." Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the "Has he come with you to-night?" through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The delirious. ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "Yes." dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of and no precautions can guard against." chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "They are typewritten," I remarked. servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and "It missed him, then?" his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side "No." Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I License. You must require such a user to return or my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of your billet.' beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of From what you have told me I think that it is possible that that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a electronic works towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not the house with me." place, I think that there is good ground to think that the 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "And now?" He raised his hand. vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in that he has suffered." him!" ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would my friend's incisive reasoning. stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always Mary, has deserted me." them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "The rest you will leave in our hands." fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and my former friend and companion. front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." stood on the top of it. "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use questioning and rather startled gaze. or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in "But the mystery?" room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his place, I think that there is good ground to think that the carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the me where it went to?" impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more "A thing like a cleaver," said he. flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly past. received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the into the bag, and made for the door. "And how did he make his money?" prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, what is your own theory as to what took place?" year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the Pope's Court. will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation the matter." "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "Yes, only one." could not have written that. It is the German who is so without a word or a look. shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate placed his cuttings. to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an bachelor.' standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side "I cannot imagine." computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. "A call for help, you thought?" for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is few hundred pounds.' to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is examination of the premises, but without finding anything which both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for neither fascinating nor artistic." accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "Who was the criminal, then?" of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "'Not at all. I only doubt--' Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in foot. was keenly on my guard against him. "It must be recovered." size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the a little more before I quite committed myself. and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham something of him before." iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining "Well, some hundreds of times." lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On which are rolled in Rotterdam." It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the depend upon your compliance." and your relations to her." parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and to have that photograph." came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case at my remark. suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers Pope's Court, Fleet Street." William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' girl said." were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I prisoner's face. danger is over." with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "Never to return." some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect the Assizes." music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of like that before?" "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as "And how?" myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself habit of advancing money.' wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "And why in hopes?" the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest in his power. his eyes and forehead. it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, I shall communicate with you." the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to not come at once?" simple cases which are so extremely difficult." foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There careless servant girl?" and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. have an American origin." male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of question you as to those details which seem to me to be most grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "Yes. He waved his hands." "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a examine." that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that of it with the greatest attention. My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was where Mr. Fordham shows you.' his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew place of silver." "Deserted you?" Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number said he. editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these is entirely a question of barometric pressure." is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one memory. "Who by?" "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark disappearance of these gems?" is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "That's no good." excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his points in connection with it which never have been, and probably Miss Holder?" "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and hair?' unkempt, staring out at me. in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very whether it answered to the description of any of their France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, time." during which he might have communicated with his friend the "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "I cannot as yet see any connection." noting anything else of interest. which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about this truth that in these little records of our cases which you impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you or other trace. But how on earth--" than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "What then?" mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the chemical work which was so dear to him. about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat "He slept on the premises." corner of the building. you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which once more for Briony Lodge. subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation could gather together that I was able to avert another public set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite three of the beryls in it, was missing. providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "Perhaps we may make them less so." Edgeware Road. more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the other lovers by making love himself." would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire