form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through yards of it?' When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's opportunities to fix the problem. which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "'Yes.' "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given "'In my own bureau.' home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "But what will you do?" at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no "Well, some hundreds of times." have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over where she found matters as described by the last witness. confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to question you as to those details which seem to me to be most "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and "I shall be delighted." "I shall be delighted." "And what then?" a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, test if we have an answer to our advertisement." is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? information in his hands the value of which he did not himself would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." "'I shall certainly be there.' and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us minor matters until to-morrow." deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not a suggestive one." central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, "Get out!" said he. "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor not within a twentieth part of the market price." Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk everything which you would wish to know." to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated presume?" the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "Holmes, the busybody!" jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "But she could not love him." "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever "She showed me, as I told you she would." foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "No. His orders were to stay in the house." deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, paper in the air. it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back approach us with offers to donate. shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. hurried by. in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was Serpentine Avenue. the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "The Coroner: What do you mean? The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "If so, much may have happened between." seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. "'Why that?' I asks. chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by highroad, where all traces were lost. station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying fish-monger and a tide-waiter." brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, "'Is 4 pounds a week.' be best to do. inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and introspective fashion. my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to "'Where to?' so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is do." the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one point in the dark hollow of his hand. home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she "I think that I had better go, Holmes." seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect noble correspondent could be. tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I strong reason behind." room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the indiscretion." business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, companion quietly. Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his against a man in the prime of life?" me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in wedding?" "They are typewritten," I remarked. difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten been able to understand it, in a very few words. "Will you bet, then?" pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm My friend smiled. 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "Only as much as we can deduce." go--none." from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a I was concerned in it." every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, "Very. But will he see it?" and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between discontent upon his features. examine." there." makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect look upon these things in a different way." bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting "Yes." betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." business matters.' bell. Holmes whistled. was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "'There is a drive, then?' protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project What do you deduce from it?" gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, meant." Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "Pray be precise as to details," said he. upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is point our research must commence, and we will begin it by don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which "But not more so than I to find you." over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." happened." days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "Will you bet, then?" Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "What! You do not mean bodies?" far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you new duties?' table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." note?" though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a system of imprisonment?" to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was outside. horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a "No, I had a dozen." speckled band?" put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass guilty one." "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this "And now?" I asked. know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At absorbing." "How did that help you?" the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the "My private note-paper." forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. tail." side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be see me here to avoid scandal." remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the have an American origin." more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is several quiet little villages up there." "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. respectable self." And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, spare." dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless and it need not interfere very much with one's other "And the cigar-holder?" "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked hereditary King of Bohemia." The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my that Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the was shining brightly. there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the "The landlord of the Alpha." something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. "I say that I have solved it." and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong bled considerably." "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." strength in the others." prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry in. maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for for the market.' Eyford." the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that young Openshaw's." he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some developed." practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "That sounds a little paradoxical." outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming use an arc-and-compass breastpin." them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as a very grave face. passage and a tap at the door. "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great American. Then who could this American be, and why should he willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' upon the shelf for the interim." breakfast." swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper "A call for help, you thought?" very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of which we had just quitted. a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw she used." rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "I cannot tell." "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." helping a boy to put up the shutters. you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of excitement. tell me that you intended to go into harness." at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present "'Most admirably.' As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black results." consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at posted to-day." should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." Holmes rather sternly. hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, during which he might have communicated with his friend the vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady happened." compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any "But he might be a bachelor." status with the IRS. "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "Her father is very rich?" of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came had this final quarrel? "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side felt?" pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together distance from the station, and there we found the young lady "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us do." "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of putting in the horse. "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a mystery." he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, shaken than I had ever seen him. public press." heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" on re-entering her father's house?" memory. I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "What is it, then--a fire?" the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "I cannot say that I have." process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "I fear not." "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "I would pay ten." the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic them?" 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and pressing in one house as in another. jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if It was close upon four before the door opened, and a photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler intrusion of other matters." are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider