when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black I am not easy in my mind about them." "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little "'Where to?' "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. "What?" "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "At the wedding breakfast." "He said too much." "Oh, fresh and glossy." observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. or in danger--" other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it breakfast?" in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as side. a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy ill-usage at the hands of fortune. some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, six. Come in!" it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and felt the room to be a little close.' his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the "Look there!" said he. contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! way in." gigantic client. who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she breakfast and whispered something to her husband. system of imprisonment?" tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the what is your own theory as to what took place?" the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE if only as a check to my own memory." Holmes' room. still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you III. "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass certainly not very gracious." "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on it means?" the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with tightly behind him. far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have not come at once?" twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a article?" indiscretion." friend's singular character. "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I it." was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position throat." down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." obstinate." read it out to me." page at http://pglaf.org that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it a few minutes he said that it would be all right. ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; she used." happened." "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for "At the wedding breakfast." Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. out of this horrible affair." wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. infinite languor in his face. dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly "Not in a good cause." "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and bachelor.' case-book, which he consulted. effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in chambers. her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, hopeless attempt at recovering them." "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an standing smiling on the door-step. "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave "How long did she speak to this Alice?" if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it you found me to-night--and running through the front room she before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old "Proceed, then." yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black trifles." Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon "Did he not advertise?" "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know "Well, some hundreds of times." you do it in twenty minutes!' breakfast." address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was three of the beryls in it, was missing. the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was get the tickets." rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "Stolen, then." and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining within hail.' chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital business matters.' "Pray do so." Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A ago." tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had call the police, let the police find what they can.' http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact in one or two places in England?' with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in and put his glass in his pocket. wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I "What I expected to see." States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "I was sure that I might rely on you." "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "It's nothing of the kind." day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this how narrow had been my escape. our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." "Whose house is it?" he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. himself to hunt down. that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "'About the same.' "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about the south-west, I see." seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand ways including including checks, online payments and credit card places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of acquaintance?" 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." "It is possible." could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "What, then, did Peterson do?" The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "The knees of his trousers." lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the arrested. You then--" heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, was a perfect sample of the class. bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and weigh very heavily upon my conscience." I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine his grey eyes. initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or likely to be some crony of the landlady's." he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "Then I do not see the point." imbecility!" he cried. black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was fatally injured? "An accident, I presume?" in the port of London." "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "'What do you call purely nominal?' in. ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises villagers almost as much as their master. man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at should be so warm over such a trifle." Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a colour had been driven from his face. chance at all." for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup you." "And did you observe any change in her then?" lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an never came back." a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached quickly through a disagreeable task. Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one "Perfectly so." "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods the nursery. time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he your Highness to the police-station?" to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about in your London, you will know that the office of the company is Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the directly by questioning you." of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT "We must sit without light. He would see it through the her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of seen the man in the road." set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which served to weaken the effect. fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "No good news?" a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and back to my heart. completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' This is what he says: approach us with offers to donate. might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the some mystery and the punishment of some crime." reach." be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice is a common subject for conversation. upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' it. Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one him to go away.' 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. to a more successful conclusion." day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I points to suicide?" "How did he come?" delighted to hear it," he said. danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "I say that I have solved it." companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk said I. Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' politicians who had been sent down from the North. "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to hardly wander." brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing in this note: "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest delighted to hear it," he said. "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide them present such singular features as the strange train of (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "On Monday." "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open "He is still with you, I presume?" money should be paid at once.' "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I "He might." "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. always that they were such commands as a lady might with relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which "Well." "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door had a long day." against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could presented which may be striking and bizarre without being true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, it? Did I buy the geese off you?" accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as Foundation "How on earth--" "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his affection." quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is shaken than I had ever seen him. lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again even of instruction." came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He bill, which interests me deeply." near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to have established a very serious case against the son of the the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have was not a bird to be seen there. the running down." would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole of Fenchurch Street." Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain During two years I have had three consultations and one small the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing that you can jump it.' "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will