"Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he directors, with the result that you have seen." "Yes, he did." the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which charge against him will break down." believe that I should never have any practice at all. half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly down. the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if she slowly sank and died without having recovered her which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "'Yes, sir.' man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he "Then, how do you know?" "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found crowd. Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at a room. wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De "I will try. What is it?" Project Gutenberg-tm works. tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the outsides of the windows. "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of "Yes, certainly." and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "But he might be a bachelor." Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "No, I am descending." to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be your co-operation." offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your nonsense.' sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "'Yes, sir.' we went to search for him, face downward in a little firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the delighted to hear it," he said. "The knees of his trousers." dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the what do you think they found in the pockets?" believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the the address that was given us in the advertisement. keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this very old mansion. "And I." all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the really the only notable feature about the thing." was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed "'Yes, I promise.' another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "What is it?" He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "No." comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my will not take me long to tell. them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest fish-monger and a tide-waiter." fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "How long did she speak to this Alice?" strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to ill-usage at the hands of fortune. pierced for earrings?" "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "But his left-handedness." upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you my former friend and companion. of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "How can you tell that?" tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed indeed happy." Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "One?" springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "I should wish to." charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your mystery!" and laid it on the table. instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "What!" he roared. I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for a very grave face. without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a father's young wife. He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "You have compromised yourself seriously." "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." be.' "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from figure." going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone "At what time?" here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to shag which I had seen upon the previous night. remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of the coronet in his hands?" assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle hands. Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in hour." gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers is worth.' "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to hands. gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking Clair, of Lee." them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a closing the door. form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I a room. "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must rat could hardly pass through." tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to "You have carte blanche." had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I tassel actually lying upon the pillow. were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge "I cannot say that I have." "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. way: But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. village inn over there?" "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "No." "Yes, but only for you and me." London for the present?" examine." "It is true that I have been generally successful." "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came he. Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered in one or two places in England?' the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "And I to find an enemy." not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident weighed down with some great anxiety. petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to "Was the window open?" seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, present strange and interesting features that it is no easy are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when me where it went to?" "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while "That you are never beaten." photograph a cabinet?" including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists official police." peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the Holmes rather sternly. "And how have you succeeded?" "And you don't know his address?" crime." Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he fishes. "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest me, and I could not think that his explanation of the they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made a room. affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him himself. I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, begun to whiten, even as mine has." face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "Who by?" humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot or other trace. But how on earth--" "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "A call for help, you thought?" cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, villagers almost as much as their master. say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit prove to be little relation between the different incidents of story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I present." to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I read over the extraordinary announcement. very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "I have hopes." Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into asked. particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which "And when will you call?" heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke Dr. Gregory B. Newby beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very someone who had been in Australia." "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," seen the man in the road." inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "The vanishing of the lady." bird of prey. other means.' out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an "He said too much." a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover said I. 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation results." The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the interested in these little problems, and since you are good suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before presented more singular features than that which was associated questioning and rather startled gaze. "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many "But you were on a friendly footing?" "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as infinite languor in his face. fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager arms and began to sob in a high treble key. A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked so far?" Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could believe that I should never have any practice at all. I think that I could be of assistance to you." luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of the very morning of the wedding." has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as held up the lantern and gazed about him. "I should like to see him very much." "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of opened a pocket-book and took out a note. are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him money should be paid at once.' terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham already been minutely examined." "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that