red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, "Were they all fastened this morning?" entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily maid will bring up your coffee." dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a "I have seen the police." "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually was keenly on my guard against him. answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. charged with?" "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for that he will be back before evening." didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name weigh very heavily upon my conscience." He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in which we had just quitted. a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. questionable one." to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker "Awake, Watson?" he asked. any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." looking up at the numbers of the houses." their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen shaken than I had ever seen him. exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he future lives." the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "Oh, fresh and glossy." points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I been deceived." you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely what these perils are?" without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at call for it in person on Monday morning.' Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I never will be, entirely cleared up. is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. I approached. sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin outsides of the windows. wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still characteristics, but those are the more obvious." could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "You think that he is dead?" mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any "It certainly sounds feasible." think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is "'And what are they worth?' I asked. and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened instincts rose up against that laugh. unprofitable." murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "Absolutely none." is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of him, that man would not have given me such complete information me where it went to?" well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "I have come for advice." stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could "'As governess?' to take care of herself." sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the was feeling which was the fattest.' considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," said he. see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." "I say that I have solved it." during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought "Oh, fresh and glossy." "What can you not understand?" and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours populous neighbourhood." "The Coroner: What do you mean? ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my Surrey." "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt "Absolutely none." felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and "But how?" "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled started for the Temple to see my husband. be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The like that before?" it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have telegram would bring me down to your help." valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "Pray let us have it, for all that." which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "'Stolen!' he cried. "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and knowledge of the world." the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was asked. friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore companion imperturbably. list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When a monotonous occupation." "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "It's nothing of the kind." I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. of it with the greatest attention. Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to "VIOLET HUNTER." Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may for and were ordered to this address. married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "Yes, at the mines." British peeress.'" already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, rose-bushes. search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "Ah!" without success. At last the little money which I had saved began it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was considering the formidable letters which were received by himself the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "'And the work?' lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a lost his Christmas dinner." Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences new acquaintance to Baker Street. been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! perplexity from it to my illustrious client. he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us your co-operation." "Where to?" sake, don't!" instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better "And how in the world did you find them?" "I have solved it." "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. existence." reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they "But his left-handedness." gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." that the gas is not laid on in his house?" whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the quite distinctive." "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds were unconscious?" posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied "Then he might have called to you?" called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." looking up at the numbers of the houses." collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. until night should bring an explanation. the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without once more to my work. "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "Yes, the wine-cellar." great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the asked. the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into you in yours." "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "A confidential servant?" matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that once more for Briony Lodge. her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about think, you have already met." "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it gone. when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no been." forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace wall." you." "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "It is his hat." what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "I am about to be married." unkempt, staring out at me. to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads presume?" points in connection with it which never have been, and probably bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a Project Gutenberg-tm works. homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a the tragedy. follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you Lee, in the county of Kent." that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know husband's writing, madam." opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "How about poison?" all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "I cannot tell." Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "What, then?" gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the good-night and bustled off upon her way. gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow take the flies, but not before." confronted him. endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "'And what salary do you ask?' owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There footfalls from the street. his grey eyes. which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, seen the man in the road." "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the man. I know him from the photograph." my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "Indeed! Whose, then?" dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "How can you tell that?" wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "Was the window open?" "Witness: I must still refuse. "'I am sure that I do not know.' "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be upon the sideboard." contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two green of the new foliage. To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. electronic works in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and of the one which your family is now devouring." "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon the address that was given us in the advertisement. us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is it. gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you remarked. fish-monger and a tide-waiter." dramatic, in fact." "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What "But what is it you wish?" would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled him and tried to hold him back. "Very murderous indeed." "Why did you beat the pavement?" "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case recall any case within my experience which looked at the first slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! "BALLARAT." have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass any more." it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been there has been an enclosure here!" leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of Mary, has deserted me." "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose suddenly upon us." "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from "You have but to name it." conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "And what then?" cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." bill, which interests me deeply." he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "And when will you call?" you in your example." the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "You were travelling in the States?" so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just and have this put in the evening papers." on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. "She showed me, as I told you she would." points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H "Where, then, is my wife?" "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and