fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. me. You must get home instantly and act." singular points about the case. What did the police think of the seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the room?" "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, Cross for the Continent." to a light-house. are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." was shining brightly. that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "Deserted you?" computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "Was your sister dressed?" have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square advice." here and I will read it to you: "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It "'There is a drive, then?' wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round round with crates and massive boxes. in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own showing my impatience. wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the happened." Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I corner of the building. some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only for securing the situation." quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's here." Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: himself to tell his story. ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray an introduction to him?" the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "You are certainly joking, Holmes." is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an "It was." "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "About a month then." tell them apart.' "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "You are certainly joking, Holmes." usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not or in danger--" and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, searched, without anything being found which could incriminate village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between events, Mr. Windibank!" him to go away.' made his money." "My Mary? Impossible!" "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for upon the white wrist. "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by the dangers which encompass me." interested in these little problems, and since you are good "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three girl said." "'And what are they worth?' I asked. It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel light and attacked it." yourselves in at night?" possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than Holmes' room. remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but union?" have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ to you." do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." and no precautions can guard against." "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." photograph a cabinet?" and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When had a long day." "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "Then, as to money?" "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his despair." "How many? I don't know." against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, "Where, then, is my wife?" He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential ways including including checks, online payments and credit card mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of indeed which he could not unravel. believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a "I cannot tell." as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, morning." even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and chamber." she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he 1.E.9. "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you just called myself is not exactly my own." heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" this poor creature." box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to ago." "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself something of him before." Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an "None. Neville wrote those words." goes." "What then?" evidence," I remarked. "Yes." I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing one's self under obligations.' Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I matter over." puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside prisoner's face. the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged read it out to me." eavesdroppers?' seem to you to be relevant or not." desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the ran thus: friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk I shall communicate with you." "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That and your relations to her." incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. morning." the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed better in every way that they should make their position a little "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "What can it mean?" I gasped. is four-and-twenty." ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the new duties?' "But how?" in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried of the one which your family is now devouring." regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed frequently gained my first real insight into the character of with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch "My Mary? Impossible!" of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open exactly what you advise." that I can to serve you." without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, IS there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "That you are never beaten." to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel are, I think, all that we need." Literary Archive Foundation initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "Never." before, for it was considerably after midnight. "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole colour had been driven from his face. "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in be sorry for having acted so harshly." "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. murdered man." murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "But what is it you wish?" "Who by?" "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the past. that I may have something better before very many minutes are the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a as yours." public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a the very morning of the wedding." indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the client, rising. Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously his grey eyes. one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a "It may not come to that," said Holmes. to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." never to learn it at all." at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood way in everything. To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram easy-going way." I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the yards of it?' "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who memory. our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton all-comprehensive glances. "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to conclusions. was used.' important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The pictures, libraries, or plate. of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "No more words. Get out!" very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "Yes, at the mines." Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent even so self-evident a thing as that." the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing orange pips. the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The eavesdroppers?' accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. might help us?" purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' out of this horrible affair." could not account in any way for the presence of the missing shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "Was she in good spirits?" at my remark. would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard hand, madam?" "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point so far?" see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "Perhaps I have." case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this detained." contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this him." "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "It must be recovered." rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with hour." vanished into the darkness. foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that "I cannot tell." "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper in him." remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "I was afraid that you were engaged." said Mr. Holder. http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "I say it is." which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which and all of them with the keenest interest. held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a hour?' fact, we may call it conclusive." two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "No, my brougham is waiting." shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot present." with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch likely to be some crony of the landlady's." The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be purpose equally well?" at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who made him keep the appointment." contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "There are none." inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable crime. very morning of my second wedding." of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so be sorry for having acted so harshly." amused." them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very