Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could good for you to do.' heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her always that they were such commands as a lady might with permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, and the church but not where the lady lived." towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." "My private note-paper." "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the where we are going." warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the bedroom door." headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, "And that is--" eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the more solid." friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out putting in the horse. "How can you tell that?" All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's "But how?" name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the with you?" many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to already referred to. shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. questioning and rather startled gaze. we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his over with notes and figures. daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "What is it, then--a fire?" much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. vanished into the darkness. usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I from you?" or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my official police." may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the "Yes, there are nearly always some there." disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out there!' wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible approach us with offers to donate. "Who by?" 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is round and wave him away like that.' sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. matter." ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "Of what?" correct than the official force." works. See paragraph 1.E below. the date of his supposed suicide." This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of touch that coronet?' wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in least a most suspicious remark." thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should into the room. "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." questionable one." way: parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest done what I asked you, Jones?" all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their said he at last. "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and and it need not interfere very much with one's other opportunities to fix the problem. "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE away to you." very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the pity, because in other respects you would really have done very face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather "No, I had a dozen." concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you been." therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner families. Now for the facts. "Yes, only one." "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As delirious. reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "It is very clear." "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "Now, then, what's the last entry?" interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the Where does the thing come from?' assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A and all of them with the keenest interest. residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "No." writers could invent nothing more crude." and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "His face fell immediately. registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "And is that all?" disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your "If so, much may have happened between." experiences." any little problem which you may submit to me." is so. I know all about McCarthy." "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "'What then?' I asked. "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "I was afraid that you were engaged." "Did you become engaged then?" to tackle the facts." presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; guilty parties." up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I DISSOLVED. us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded made his money." "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in advice." "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." that, and I came down." "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and "Of what?" "Ah!" abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them a suggestive one." from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in night.' said he. "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself matter." making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or outside. closely." young Openshaw's." "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter three of the beryls in it, was missing. here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the views." armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of of your young ladies.' Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in go from here to the Strand." furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation gone before you can get him to hospital." "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending round and wave him away like that.' settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "Then, how do you know?" "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup again on its way. I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly populous neighbourhood." this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "'How far from the body?' with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It careless servant girl?" "Not social, then?" "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off This is what he says: very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us electronic works closing the door. you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, in his power. anything to a woman, for she would have her way." agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked directors, with the result that you have seen." plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the "About a month then." charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "I would pay ten." everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the some terrible trap for her." footfalls from the street. age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "Did you become engaged then?" Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and figure." going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put was a perfect sample of the class. annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps have had none more fantastic than this." work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of that the gas is not laid on in his house?" deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would 1.F. points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged formed some opinion?" to-night?" I asked. was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It in. which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in that he will be back before evening." morning." "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned back alive. remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you in darkness. passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "Look there!" said he. cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "BALLARAT." "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person to arrive at through this?" his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, "About a month then." "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" was once confined in the cab my mission was practically hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "Well, it is a possible supposition." foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life that the gas is not laid on in his house?" woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" strong and stiff." hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "So I am. Very much so." The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which London for the present?" "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "'Very good.' "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." the Assizes." cup of tea. looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought "Not yet." practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it "My dear Holmes!" if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would just ask you whether you had heard it.' crime. finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "He might." steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into breakfast?" notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had the dangers which encompass me." great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton is now desirous of getting those letters back." may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I the coronet in his hand?" "I saw her in conversation with her maid." and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and "I have seen the police." the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the Gutenberg-tm License. immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can events, Mr. Windibank!" worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "'There is a drive, then?' nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many Clair, of Lee." hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to to tackle the facts." "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER fishes. until night should bring an explanation.