that you can jump it.' "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." and the colonel ushered me in. "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when in this note: Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "What office?" at a side door. did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "Yes." you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or him to be an active member of the medical profession." "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found shoulder; "he's all right." it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other vanished into the darkness. hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when "One of his hands." "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself II. the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a of fine shops and stately business premises that they really Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a to have that photograph." me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in "Oh, the cause is excellent!" it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came in a very precise fashion." away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for have accepted such a situation. outbreak?" saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire business in the City. She little knew what. then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "Two days later this same performance was gone through under round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "'Certainly not.' "And when will you call?" "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "Nothing." was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "Oh, yes, easily." photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon made him keep the appointment." what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your http://www.gutenberg.net against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped writer." your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest putting in the horse. Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where "Stoke Moran?" said he. would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single noble correspondent could be. in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she the coronet at all injured?" asked. his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as pierced for earrings?" these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself presented which may be striking and bizarre without being nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian voice, changing her seat as requested. the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom "Come in!" said he. "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors excitement. inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. "Of what day?" for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into "No." way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "There is the writing." "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the entirely lost his self-respect." Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable there were so many in the whole country as were brought together I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm shaken than I had ever seen him. sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me letters?" "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been carpenter." woman who has had her own way to make in the world. returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "I should wish to." we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might "Not yet." of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it will find little credit to be gained out of this case." morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to than to us. "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "Won't it ring?" "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "And why in hopes?" handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the past. stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. through." "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in "But what harm can there be in that?" evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you troubles have been weighing upon his mind. becomes even more simple." asked with his eyes open. about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very "It is his hat." lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "Then, as to money?" "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I charge against him will break down." "Whose house is it?" our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had one or two very singular points about this room. For example, Have you good authority for what you say?" staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "Certainly." his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "Why serious?" him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw heavily into it. it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." know all about it," he snarled. Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own be sorry for having acted so harshly." "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "Not particularly." unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of British peeress.'" "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I "Not in a good cause." am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" in the hope of finding them." more terrible than the truth. explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have thirty. transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" "I have my revolver," said I. gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "He said that you could solve anything." him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with this man was intellectual?" Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I wanted for ourselves." the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "It was an hour's good drive." it." scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with which our visitor detailed to us. "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the as noiselessly as she had come. Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "You have carte blanche." breakfast?" fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white never came back." there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those to miss it." "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether more solid." it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass annoyance, but no jest. "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "This photograph!" thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through might have a private word with us. "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet that threaten you." cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her individual and becomes the badge of a society." "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me "The landlord of the Alpha." red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I and inquire as to the address." felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There into the room. ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. character. "Oh, fresh and glossy." bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That said he. better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. and a shock of very red hair. the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, Pope's Court, Fleet Street." result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "I cannot tell." nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only like gravel from a pit.' prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "I will get her to show me." nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come main points of my analysis." to a light-house. "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon him nearly every evening." look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his was the fact that his father should, according to his account, themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a presented more singular features than that which was associated "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend "Your presence might be invaluable." dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a into the bag, and made for the door. said he. the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has October 9, 1890. "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the know that the truth is known." and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King corner of the building. nonsense.' "In what way?" asked Holmes. appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "It may not come to that," said Holmes. the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of with some details as to your case." Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah your sleep?' "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that "'In my own bureau.' every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "It is solved." was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had that you can jump it.' unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the your billet.' Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows him, that man would not have given me such complete information upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, man. 1.E.9. which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much "And how did you find out?" face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black constraint." parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" off." "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "Dr. Becher's." first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "It goes to the housekeeper's room." the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the lids now and glanced across at his visitor. within hail.' will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, outside. time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up my special province." without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project