"Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is forebodings. gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "It must be recovered." speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported "And you thought he was pulled back?" routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "What shall I do?" depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. lids now and glanced across at his visitor. then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "The Coroner: What do you mean? "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "It is his hat." have an American origin." will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "The vanishing of the lady." it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional eat it." the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some "By all means." its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "But she will refuse." "What will you do, then?" snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with "The doctor?" shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "Yes." glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs crime. Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with past. the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "No?" the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without you understand?" hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "But how will you look?" "What will you say?" arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old you?" "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is woven round him. weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked have one." and effective." "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper keep the flames under. "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural in one or two places in England?' intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "We were both in the photograph." "'Entirely.' stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for public press." compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "It must be recovered." The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but you do it in twenty minutes!' fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive my secret was safe in his possession. to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to locked." "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "No." "Then he might have called to you?" the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "I know where it is." Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the generous with you in money matters.' front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, unclasping of his long thin hands. Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah in his power. expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' you." Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will four million human beings all jostling each other within the distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in colonel looking down at me. "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or lost nothing by them." should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I to me. bonnet, and went out." however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "To an English lawyer named Norton." "Stolen." While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly hand, madam?" tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better "I have my revolver," said I. in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible suddenly upon us." to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I carriage. It was a chestnut." and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled "Did he not advertise?" Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and back into the street. us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is a room. with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification the iron safe, which he closed upon it. extraordinary contortions. One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of 'please.'" "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me heavily into it. "Thank you. Pray proceed." array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations could not have written that. It is the German who is so looking up at the numbers of the houses." introspective fashion. might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "I was certainly surprised to find you there." it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I went to the Alpha were town bred." would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly and files of the old papers, following the future career of every "What I expected to see." "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called stalked out of the room. humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the do." "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass started for the Temple to see my husband. "Ample." "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in "Very murderous indeed." impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, "In heaven's name, what for?" "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "Yes, at the mines." "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet "Come in!" said Holmes. "I will try. What is it?" say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight go--none." us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my a very grave face. protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the "But who is he?" walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have "Yes?" shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the ourselves in the office." maid will bring up your coffee." "How about poison?" He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to place of silver." have I gained?" over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point have got?" "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "I will try. What is it?" Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to "Then you may be so with me." absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to clang of the bell. story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "Yes, the wine-cellar." "It is no ordinary one." "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to "Very murderous indeed." "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing to a light-house. Farm upon the left." waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to people don't know." morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." despair." jewels which you have stolen?' of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, narrative." in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you bearing upon the case." breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached some mystery and the punishment of some crime." "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime experiences." perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not very peculiar words of the dying woman?" I nodded again. something of him before." call for it in person on Monday morning.' this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in fasten all the windows?" "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime remarked. when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, enough to aid us in our search." "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to public press." "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in situation." nice household for a young lady." "Not in a good cause." James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near passage and a tap at the door. The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive already referred to. determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "But of what society?" To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked it were putty." very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall affair. his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask with frightened eyes at his accuser. to have been novel and of interest." himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the "That is easily got." over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "On Monday." which we had just quitted. Holmes' room. broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I intimate personal affairs in this public manner." more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "By all means." more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "Tired-looking or fresh?" SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can of this gang." business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and dead, shall be safe with us." brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." details." closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended DISSOLVED. "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "May I see it?" this truth that in these little records of our cases which you "Two days later this same performance was gone through under are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened "Yes." the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that back alive. dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "Thank you. And your address?" concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the too. something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "On your arm?" that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we derbies." "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet depend upon my doing so.' tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we with you?" chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so at home. tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a "Was he the only applicant?" greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't gone.