"But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just prisoner's face. a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and "And who is her maid?" them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "Witness: It was. I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his carried out of court." reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully bears upon the case?" The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the him." upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of John Swain, of St. Augustine. "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to amused." the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the Lee, in the county of Kent." years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done "Thank you. Pray proceed." cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as companion. India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one are, and they are waiting for us." be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the been anything against him. He had for years been known as a "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend you give your casting vote to?" "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would if she died from some sudden fright." "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the John Swain, of St. Augustine. "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken noting anything else of interest. shall not find me ungrateful." there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, she slowly sank and died without having recovered her including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary "Really! You surprise me." "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so "Yes." Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You "But your client--" 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost redistribution. Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "VIOLET HUNTER." vague figure huddled up in the darkness. another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to nothing of it?" old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the the running down." cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main highroad, where all traces were lost. "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do generous with you in money matters.' two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we "And how did you verify them?" "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a Serpentine Avenue. She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, "You are all wrong." "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to which was all perfectly true. certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull his grey eyes. answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air "I have hopes." "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon "Oh, fresh and glossy." "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here "Whose house is it?" laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and lamp. round and wave him away like that.' into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "It surprised me." maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a footfalls from the street. of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the photograph?" much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke which was all perfectly true. he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." your only hope of safety." Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "Yes." right! Sit down and let us talk it over." his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put papers on the sundial.'" employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to respectable self." "Thank you. Pray proceed." fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he for its centre. in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of "Ah, but I was recommended to you." Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband "So it appears." pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all in this way: Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning "The Cedars?" man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "Was he the only applicant?" bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." matter." thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do he bowed and left the room without another word. train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were absorbing." "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and to miss it." I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what of the one which your family is now devouring." pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. posted to-day." "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." you." building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it Chief Executive and Director master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such Pope's Court. met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "'Ten to two.' exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he visitors." done what I asked you, Jones?" prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was would apply.' Munro.' client, rising. eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had are, I think, all that we need." and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "Yes." with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable before the coroner and the police-court." a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "The King of Scandinavia." provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons congratulate you again." narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I trying to your nerves." from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "My stepfather's business papers." Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the "'Yes, it was gone.' "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall face and glided from the room. while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "She told me to ask you." generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the that there was nothing in it, after all." this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "Yes, only one." while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. wedding?" putting in the horse. Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when matter." To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. the side-table." the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I asked with his eyes open. me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too residence of the great financier. forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "How many? I don't know." own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "I am all attention, madam." was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, seen the man in the road." unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire these bleak autumnal evenings." from you?" without success. At last the little money which I had saved began whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to right! Sit down and let us talk it over." squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, corner of the building. "Then you may entirely rely on me." he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under character. wedding?" indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their the bottom.' dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "Never." THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." relief. "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger not, dad?" she asked. corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "Really! You surprise me." correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The ill-usage at the hands of fortune. "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "But you would not advise me to refuse?" something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to signal between you and your father? down from London to inquire more deeply into it." and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was voice. the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that and the whole place is in a blaze." "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a as he remarks, very much against the son." in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, outbreak?" "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a entirely devoid of interest." upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more empty. wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat the so-precious time, but come!' my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning this truth that in these little records of our cases which you a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As weary and pale-looking. unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, whole matter to your consideration." knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried dates and names. individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose hardly wander." case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," here." been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had the coronet at all injured?" "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "No, but the enclosure is." 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. have I gained?" little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and read it out to me." He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If along the entire front of the house, with three long windows elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which "That is unusual in a young girl." beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "'As governess?' introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel was a lad." "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. "Her father is very rich?" walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "One of the highest in England." commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' Countess of Morcar's?" "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by of them has the shutters up.'